
Glass 3 r\^ \ 
Book J _. 



i1 

NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES 



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BY LIEUT. G.S/ PARSONS, R. N. 















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BOSTON 


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CHARLES C. 


littlp: and 

iM DCCC XLIir. 


JAMES 


BROWN 



Mi/'X 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. tJ 

would have been vagabonds in the lands of their 
fathers. Gentlemen, some of you are parents, and I 
appeal to your feelings ; let each of you place your- 
selves in my situation, and say how you would have 
acted ; but I think my destruction is predetermined, 
and this court anything but a court of justice. If I 
am right, my blood be upon your head, and on those 
of your children." 

The veteran spread his hands abroad, and presented 
a fine picture of a brave man in extreme peril. The 
court was cleared, and a very short time elapsed be- 
fore it was again opened to pronounce sentence on 
this devoted noble. Count Thurn covered his head, 
and addressed the wretched old man : - 

" Admiral Prince Carraciolli, you have been unan- 
imously found guilty of the charges brought against 
you ; you have repaid the high rank and honors, con- 
ferred on you by a mild and confiding sovereign, with 
the blackest ingratitude. The sentence of the court 
is, that you shall be hanged by the neck at the yard- 
arm of your own flag-ship in two hours from this 
time, and may God have mercy on your soul ! " 

The countenance of the veteran admiral betrayed 
no other emotion than a stern composure. 

''Hereafter," said he, "when you shall be called 
to your great account, you will weep for this unjust 
sentence in tears of blood. I take shame to myself 
in asking any favor from such men ; but, if possible, 
I wish to be shot as becomes my rank, and not hung 
up like a felon and a dog." 

"It is inadmissible," said Count Thurn; " and the 
court is hereby dissolved." 



4 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

At two o'clock in the afternoon the veteran, with a 
firm step, walked into Lord Nelson's barge, and with 
a party of thirty of our seamen, under one of our 
lieutenants, was taken to his flag-ship, the gun fired, 
and the brave old man launched into eternity at the 
expiration of the two hours from the time the sen- 
tence had passed. The seamen of our fleet, who 
clustered on the rigging like bees, consoled themselves 
that it was only an Italian Prince, and the admiral of 
Naples, that was hanging, a person of very light esti- 
mation compared with the lowest man in a British 
ship. His majesty of Naples, the prime minister. Sir 
John Acton, and many of the foreign ambassadors, 
joined and took up their quarters in the Foudroyant 
two days after the execution ; and my Lord Nelson 
removed to the first lieutenant's cabin as his sleeping 
apartment, giving his cabin to the king's use, and the 
larboard side of the main-deck for his cooks, who 
condescended to officiate as ours ; and never did mid- 
shipmen fare so sumptuously as during the king's 
long stay on b6ard the Foudroyant. The day was 
passed in administering justice (Italian fashion) to the 
wretches who fell into the grasp of Cardinal Ruff'o's 
lambs, enlivened by the bombardment of St. Elmo, 
which we were battering in breach. At noon, dinner 
was served to the royal party and their guests on the 
quarter-deck ; Lady Hamilton's graceful form bending 
over her harp, and her heavenly music gave a gusto 
to the dessert. As the sun went down, the opera 
singers, in a large decked galley, came alongside, and 
all that could delight the ear or please the eye was 
there to fascinate and charm. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 5 

Some days after the execution, when the name of 
Admiral Carraciolli had ceased to be remembered 
among the great and noble of the land, I was roused 
from my slumbers with an account of the king being 
on deck. Wondering at his bad taste for early rising, 
I hurried up, and found his majesty gazing with 
intense anxiety on some distant object. At once he 
turned pale, and, letting his spyglass fall on deck, 
uttered an exclamation of horror. My eyes instinc- 
tively turned in the same direction, and under our 
larboard quarter, with his face full upon us, much 
swollen and discolored by the water, and his orbs of 
sight started from their sockets by strangulation, 
floated the ill-fated prince. All the superstition of 
the Italian school was called into play by this extra- 
ordinary (and, in truth, it was a fearful) apparition. 
The old man's grey hair streamed in the light breeze 
that rippled the placid waters of this lovely bay ; 
the king and court were alarmed, and looked very 
pale ; the priesthood, who were numerous on board, 
were summoned ; when one, more adroit than his 
brethren, told the king that the spirit of his unfortu- 
nate admiral could not rest without his forgiveness, 
which he had risen to implore. This was freely 
accorded ; and on Lord Nelson (who was suflering 
from ill health) being awaked from his uneasy slum- 
bers by the agitation of the court, he ordered a boat 
to be sent from the ship to tow the corpse on shore. 
This unlooked-for appearance of the dead did not 
lessen our appetite for the good things in the king's 
larder, or our zest for the evening's opera. 

Things moved on in the same gay strain, though 
1# 



6 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

many hearts were breaking with incurable sorrow, 
and many a brilliant eye was dimmed by incessant 
weeping ; while famine, with its attendant miseries, 
reigned in the populous city of Naples, preyed on by 
twenty thousand banditti under the primate Cardinal 
RufFo, and who (I suppose in derision) were denomi- 
minated the Christian army. These scoundrels, 
unchecked by law or justice, with no force to restrain 
them, freely indulged their licentious habits, and, 
with tiger-like ferocity, waded deep in blood. Many, 
very many, of Italy's beauteous daughters, and those 
of high rank, have I seen prostrate on our deck, im- 
ploring protection from these bloody ruffians, by 
whom their natural protectors had been murdered. 
In my mind's eye I see them now ! Their graceful 
forms bent with misery — their dark eyes and clasped 
hands raised to the Father of all for mercy — their 
clear olive complexion changing to a sickly hue from 
anguish of mind. How could men, possessing human 
hearts, refrain from flying to their relief? Yet, I am 
sorry to say, they were placed (without regard to 
their feelings) in polaccos, under the guidance of 
young English midshipmen, there to let their afflicted 
hearts break at leisure. Dear, amiable, and gentle 
sex ! How infinitely greater appears to me thy share 
of the curse brought upon the descendants of Adam 
and Eve, by their disobedience, than ours ! I grieve 
to say, that wonderful, talented, and graceful beauty, 
Emma Lady Hamilton, did not sympathize in the 
manner expected from her generous and noble nature. 
This lady was one of God's nobility, for her virtues 
were manifold ; her vices proceeded from unfavorable 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



circumstances, to which, in some degree, we are all 
victims. This noble, but unfortunate lady, has been 
most grossly calumniated. She served the country 
with unwearied zeal and activity, and in a greater 
degree than any female ever had the power. She 
was the cause of saving millions of British property 
from the grasp of the Spanish king in 1797, she 
enabled Lord Nelson to fight the battle of Aboukir, 
and kept steady to our interest the fickle and dissolute 
court of Naples, from her influence over the daughter 
of Maria Theresa, then queen of that place. Her 
generosity and good nature were unbounded — her 
talents and spirit unequalled ; and, to my knowledge, 
her heart was of softer materials than to rejoice in 
the sufferings of the enemies of the court, to whom 
both she and Lord Nelson were bound by the strong- 
est ties of gratitude and aff"ection. To that high 
sense of gratitude for benefits conferred on them 
must we attribute the execution of Prince Carraciolli, 
and some other acts much to be lamented. But poor 
human nature is very fallible ; they sinned, and 
deeply sinned, through their aff"ection to their bene- 
factors. One short tale, and I consign this unjustly 
treated and wonderful woman to oblivion. 

On the peace of Amiens taking place, I was paid 
off" from the frigate to which T had been appointed 
lieutenant by Lord Keith, and served as such during 
the Egyptian expedition (of which more anon,) and 
retired, from full pay, to nothing and find myself, 
with the comfortable assurance, from those in power, 
that the peace promotion had taken place, and there 
was no hope for me. As a last resource and ''forlorn 



8 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

hope," I went to Lord Nelson's seat, at Merton, and 
fortunately gained admission to his lordship through 
his well-known and favorite servant, Tom Allen, who 
approached his study-door under some apprehension 
of the nature of our reception. The voice of Lord 
Nelson, denoting vexation, reprimanded my friend, 
and declared, most truly, he was pestered to death by 
young gentlemen, his former shipmates. Tom pushed 
me into the room, and went in search of an able 
auxiliary, who entered the study, in the most pleasing 
shape — that of a lovely and graceful woman ; and, 
with her usual fascinating and playful manner, de- 
clared, ^' His Lordship must serve me." His 
countenance, which, until now, had been a thunder- 
cloud, brightened ; and Lady Hamilton was the sun 
that lightened our hemisphere. She, with that ready 
wit possessed by the fair sex alone, set aside his 
scruples of asking a favor of the first Admiralty 
Lord, by dictating a strong certificate, which, under 
her direction, he wrote. 

" Now, my young friend," said her ladyship, with 
that irresistible smile which gave such expression of 
sweetness to her lovely countenance, '' obey my 
directions minutely ; send this to Lord St. Vincent, at 
Brentwood, so as to reach him on Sunday morning." 

My commission, as an officer, was dated the same 
as the aforesaid certificate. May it be made up to 
thee in another and a better world, sweet lady ! for 
man's injustice in this — where thou hast been most 
foully calumniated — and thy sins and weaknesses 
attributed to their proper source ; thy low birth, and 
association of thy infant years, joined to the most 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 9 

extraordinary talent and beauty that ever adorned 
thy sex. Had that well-proportioned head been 
encircled by a diadem, thy memory would have been 
held up for the adoration, instead of the execration, 
of mankind. 

THE CHASE. 

*' Deck, there ! the stranger is evidently a man-of- 
war — she is a line-of-battle ship, my lord, and going 
large on the starboard tack." 

" Ah ! an enemy, Mr. Stains : I pray God it may 
be Le Genereux. The signal for a general chase, 
Sir Ed'ard (the Nelsonian pronunciation of Edward), 
make the Foudroyant fly ! " 

Thus spoke the heroic Nelson ; and every exertion 
that emulation could inspire was used to crowd the 
squadron with canvass, the Northumberland taking 
the lead, with the flag-ship close on her quarter. 

" This will not do, Sir Ed'ard ; it is certainly Le 
Genereux, and to my flag-ship she can alone surren- 
der — Sir Ed'ard, we must and shall beat the North- 
umberland." 

" I will do the utmost, my lord : get the engine to 
work on the sails — hang buts of water to the stays 
— pipe the hammocks down, and each man place 
shot in them — slack the stays, knock up the wedg- 
es, and give the masts play — start off" the water, Mr. 
James, and pump the ship. The Foudroyant is draw- 
ing a-head, and at last takes the lead in the chase 
The admiral is working his fin, (the stump of his 
right arm,) do not cross his hause, I advise you." 

The advice was good, for at that moment Nelson 



10 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

opened furiously on the quarter-master at the conn. 
" I '11 knock you off your perch, you rascal, if you 
are so inattentive — Sir Ed'ard, send your best quar- 
ter-master to the weather-wheel." 

" A strange sail ahead of the chase," called the 
look-out man. 

" Youngster to the mast-head — what ! going with- 
out your glass, and be d d to you ? — let me know 

what she is immediately." 

"A sloop of war or frigate, my lord," shouted the 
young signal midshipman. 

"Demand her number." 

" The Success, my lord." 

" Captain Peard, signal to cut off the flying enemy' 
— great odds though — thirty-two small guns to 
eighty large ones." 

" The Success has hove to athwart-hawse of the 
Genereux, and is firing her larboard broadside. The 
Frenchman has hoisted his tri-color, with a rear-ad- 
miral's flag." 

" Bravo — Success at her again.^^ 

'' She has wore round, my lord, and firing her star- 
board broadside. It has winged her, my lord — her 
flying kites are flying away altogether. The enemy 
is close on the Success, who must receive her tremen- 
dous broadside." The Genereux opens her fire on 
her little enemy, and every person stands aghast, 
afraid of the consequences. " The smoke clears away, 
and there is the Success, crippled, it is true, but, bull- 
dog Hke, bearing up after the enemy." 

" The signal for the Success to discontinue the ac- 
tion, and come under my stern," said Lord Nelson ,* 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 11 

'* she has done well for her size — try a shot from 
the lower deck at her, Sir Ed'ard." 

*' It goes over her." 

** Beat to quarters, and fire coolly and deliberately 
at her masts and yards." 

The Le Genereux at this moment opened her fire 
on us ; and, as a shot passed through the mizen stay- 
sail, Lord Nelson, patting one of the youngsters on 
the head, asked him jocularly, how he relished the 
music, and observing something like alarm depicted 
on his countenance, consoled him with the informa- 
tion, that Charles XII. ran away from the first shot 
he heard, though afterwards he was called '' the 
Great," and deservedly, from his bravery — "I there- 
fore," said Lord Nelson, '' hope much from you in 
future." 

Here the Northumberland opened her fire, and down 
came the tri-colored ensign, amidst the thunder of our 
united cannon. 

" The signal to discontinue the firing." And Sir 
Edward Berry boarded the prize. Very shortly he 
returned with Rear-Admiral Pere's sword, who, he 
stated, was then dying on his quarter deck, with the 
loss of both legs, shot off by the raking broadsides of 
the little Success. This unfortunate Frenchman was 
under the imputation of having broken his parole, and 
was considered lucky in having redeemed his honor 
by dying in battle. 

THE BALL. 

Lord Nelson was truly elated by capturing one of 
the two ships that alone made their escape from the 



12 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

battle of Aboukir. Leaving the squadron, under Cap- 
tain Ball, to blockade Malta, the Foudroyant bore up 
for Palermo — there to receive the incense of refined 
Italian flattery, incessant balls and feedings, the smiles 
of beauty, and the witchery of music. The pencil 
of Hogarth would have been well employed in sketch- 
ing our cockpit, preparing for one of these exhibi- 
tions. 

" Two dirty shirts, nearly new, for one cleaji one," 
shouts a midshipman. " Who will lend a pair of uni- 
form breeches ? for mine are worn out by pipe-clay 
and cleaning," cries a second-reefer. "John, yours 
will fit, and you are not on turn for going — do, 
there 's a good fellow ! " 

" Excuse me. Jack, for you ruined my number-one 
coat at your last turn out, by rolling in the gutter, 
when you received that ugly cut of the stiletto from 
the cut-throat Italian who calls himself a marquis." 

" Ay, ay ; but I am to give you one for it, made 
by Stultz, should we both reach old England." 

How different to this capering, fiddling, frivolous 
people ! 

When assembled on the Prado, at Palermo, to the 
number of fifteen, a collection was ordered by our 
leader to pay for the requisite carriages to the king's 
palace, at Colley, the splendid scene of the night's 
festivities To our great dismay, each of our party 
had forgotten his purse, from long disuse, except one, 
who, after long and laborious search, produced a paulo, 
value five-pence. To walk four miles would not do 
in dancing-pumps, and to return, when in ball-room 
order, which had cost us a world of trouble and tried 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 13 

our resources to the utmost pitch of human ingenui- 
ty, for I (the author) substituted the leg of a stock- 
ing that had once been white for a cambric pocket- 
handkerchief ; and most serviceable it proved ; for, 
on crowning the statue of Lord Nelson, erected in 
the illuminated gardens, to the appropriate tune of 
Rule Britannia, which was done by his present Majes- 
ty of Naples, then a little boy, my lord's feelings were 
so overcome as to betray him into womanly weakness, 
and his trusty aides-de-carnp could do no less than 
apply their handkerchiefs, though, in some, from a 
contrary feeling of mirth. 

At this time the aforesaid stocking was invaluable : 
— but to return to our dilemma of how we could get 
to CoUey's. The leader proposed seizing the first 
carriage, which he called, putting it into requisition 
for his majesty's service, viz. to convey his midship- 
men. A nobleman's splendid vehicle, that was stand- 
ing at his palace door for the purpose of conveying 
the family to the royal ball, was the first that we en- 
countered, and after a little scuffle in displacing the 
coachman and footman, we succeeded in lining it in- 
side and out, with young English midshipmen, in 
training for future Nelsons. This notable exploit 
created much amazement, and, from their exclama- 
tions, displeasure in the minds of our Italian allies, 
and the upset of another coach from the careless driv- 
ing of our leader. This unfortunate occurrence damp- 
ed our buoyant spirits, from a young and beautiful 
duchess having sustained considerable injury from the 
concussion. But beyond all description was the fairy 
scene presented by the illuminated palace and the 
2 



14 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 

gardens, the assembled royal family, the great in 
rank, the bold in arms, with Italy's nut-brown daugh- 
ters, their lustrous black eyes, and raven tresses, their 
elegant and voluptuous forms gliding through the 
mazy dance ; and the whole presided over by the 
genius of taste, whose attitudes were never equalled, 
and with a suavity of manner, and a generous open- 
ness of mind and heart, where selfishness, with all its 
unamiable concomitants, pride, envy, and jealousy, 
would never dwell, — I mean Emma, Lady Hamil- 
ton. These agreeables soon drove from our youthful 
minds all unpleasant impressions, and the kind man- 
ner in which the presiding genius attended to our 
wants and covered our bUniders, — for, for one of our 
young companions (now a commodore) she won at 
Rouge et Noir five pounds in as many minutes, — 
most probably divining the low state of our finances, 
and this enabled us to retreat as gentlemen, when our 
entree had been the reverse. At midnight we were 
marshalled by the ofiicers of the palace into the illu- 
minated gardens. Gentle reader, if you have seen 
Vauxhall on a gala night, you may form some con- 
ception of the fairy scene, heightened by the attend- 
ance of a Turkish admiral and his officers, whose 
squadron lay in the Bay of Palermo. Their rich and 
unique attire, the contemptuous gravity with which 
they viewed the dancing, and the attention and ado- 
ration paid to the fairest and likewise the best part of 
God's beautiful creation, excited in their minds as- 
tonishment, and probably disgust. Their warlike 
sash, studded with loaded pistols, caused terror among 
the fair, and acted as a repelling power, by keeping 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 15 

the gentle sex at a gazing distance. These grim- 
looking gentlemen, on making an awkward attempt 
to take the same liberties with the natives, they saw 
practised with impunity by their modest allies, (the 
diffident English,) were haughtily repelled, and many 
a turbaned head was laid low by that handy little in- 
strument, the stiletto. Their indignant admiral de- 
manded the murderers for the pleasure of impaling 
them ; but Lord Nelson checked his fury by anchor- 
ing the Foudroyant between them and the town in 
battle order, with an intimation that the first shot 
fired at our allies, would be construed into a declara- 
tion of war against the Sons of the Ocean, and be 
resented by the Duke of Thunder in the true Nel- 
sonian style. An Herculean-made Maltee slave, hav- 
ing got the shakle off one leg, jumped into the sea, 
and, with astonishing exertion, swam on board us 
with a great weight of chain attached to his right 
leg ; never shall I forget the poor fellow's wild and 
earnest supplication to Lord Nelson and Lady Hamil- 
ton for protection. It drew tears from the eyes of 
the fair Emma, and fruitless wishes ; for his lordship 
would not risk a war, and have his flag-ship destroyed 
for a wretched slave. With some other youngsters 
interested for the poor man, I went on board the 
frigate he had jumped from, but our questions respect- 
ing his fate were deemed intrusive and impertinent. 
Great coolness for some time existed between the fol- 
lowers of our blessed Saviour and the impostor Maho- 
met. But to return to the palace gardens, — the 
fireworks were astonishing, by their ingenuity and 
brilliant effect, the vast company that were moving 



16 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

to the centre to view a temple erected to the goddess 
of Fame, who, perched on the dome, was blowing 
her trumpet ; under the portico was seen an admira- 
ble statue of our gallant hero, supported by Lady 
Hamilton on his right, and Sir William on his left. 
These statues were imposing and excellent likenesses. 
As we approached, the king's band played, " Rule 
Britannia." At once silence prevailed. His present 
majesty of Naples (then Prince Leopold) mounted 
the steps behind the large statue of Nelson, on which 
he placed a crown of laurel, richly inlaid with 
diamonds. The trumpets then blew a point of war, 
and the bands struck up with great animation, " See 
the conquering Hero comes." Lord Nelson's feelings 
were greatly touched, and big tears coursed each oth- 
er down his weather-beaten cheeks, as on one knee 
he received the young prince in his only arm, who, 
with inimitable grace had embraced him, caUing him 
the guardian angel of his papa, and his dominions. 
All who were susceptible of the finer feelings showed 
them by their emotion, and many a countenance, that 
had looked with unconcern on the battle and the 
breeze, now turned aside, ashamed of their womanly 
weakness. This was the time my substitute stock- 
ing rendered great service ; for I do not hesitate to 
say, that I sobbed as if my schoolmaster had just ap- 
plied his most forcible arguments. 

The king, queen, and three fair princesses, one of 
them beautiful, approached the trio, and warmly con- 
gratulated his lordship on the recent capture of Le 
Genereux. Dancing recommenced, and I made some 
awkward attempts, as partner to the youngest Prin- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 17 

cess of Castlecicallo, who good-naturedly endeavored 
to get me through the santarella, but I fancied was 
glad when she exchanged me for the Prince of Paler- 
mo, whose form resembled a wasp, (being pinched in 
the waist by his military, sash,) and spun round like 
a te-totum on the light fantastic toe ; and by the ele- 
gance of his waltzing, soon effaced the recollection 
of a clumsy English boy, whose healthy apple cheeks 
were his only recommendation. This splendid en- 
tertainment was concluded by some of the wildest of 
our youngsters attempting to break through his 
majesty's foot guards, who refused to give way to 
their orders. They were instantly charged by the 
midshipmen with their dress dirks, and broken. One 
of the savages fired, and shot a fine boy through the 
thigh, who did well. For this notable and ill-timed 
feat, Lord Nelson stopped our leave for six months, 
and many an anathema was showered on us by our 
equally unfortunate contemporaries of the squadron. 



2* 



18 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



CAPTURE OF THE GUILLAUME TELL, NOW 
CALLED THE MALTA. 



THE BATTLE. 



The shattered person of Lord Nelson, — for in 
battle he had lost an arm and an eye, and got a 
fractured skull, — acting upon a delicate and diminu- 
tive frame, (for as Sir William Hamilton, the ambas- 
sador, justly observed, he had a great soul enshrined 
in a small casket,) disabled and rendered him unfit 
for sea ; therefore his flag-ship, the Foudroyant, sailed 
for Malta under his captain, who was 7iot Sir Thomas 
Hardy. On arriving off Valetta, the capital of that 
island, a message from Commodore Sir Manly Dixon, 
(then commanding the Lion, 64,) was delivered 
through the trumpet of tlie commander of the Minor- 
ca, that he had certain intelligence that the Guillaume 
Tell would try an escape to Toulon, as she was des- 
titute of provisions. The Commodore ordered us to 
anchor close in with the harbor's mouth, and watch 
her motions. Our station was accordingly taken just 
out of gunshot. At midnight (the darkness being 
intense) a movement was observed on shore, skyrock- 
ets exploded, and blue lights and false fires gave inti- 
mation that the Guillaume Tell, Rear-Admiral Decres, 
was attempting an escape through our blockading 
squadron. The ship was put in battle order, and the 
crew impatiently waited the order of our commander, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 19 

who, deficient in general knowledge of the French 
language, had acquired a phrase that, from its rarity, 
was deeply impressed on his mind, and influenced 
his conduct. He said the French were practising a 
ruse de guerre^ and remaining fast at anchor. The 
frequent flashes and roar of heavy artillery, caused a 
disposition in the minds of our oflicers to doubt the 
correctness of their gallant commander's judgment j 
and the message delivered from the Minorca, that the 
commander had sent him to say that the Guillaume 
Tell was going large on the starboard tack, closely 
followed and fired into by the Penelope frigate ; and 
that we being the only ship able to cope with such a 
monster, was ordered to bring her to close action in- 
stanter. 

The ruse de guerre, haunting the mind of our 
commander, prevented immediate obedience ; and the 
late Sir Thomas Stains, (then third lieutenant, and 
commanding the lower-deck guns) indignantly off*ered 
to pull into the harbor of Valletta, and ascertain to a 
certainty whether the Guillaume Tell, or some sub- 
stitute, had misled the British squadron. '' I will not 
risk so valuable a life as yours, Mr. Stains," * and 
things remained in the same state of quietude, until 
broken by a shot from the Port Mahon brig athwart 
our stern, and on the " Foudroyant ahoy ! " from a 
hoarse, powerful voice, compelled the attention of our 
chief. *'I am ordered by Commodore Manly Dixon 
to express his great surprise at the inactivity of the 
flag-ship of Lord Nelson. It is his most positive or- 

* He died Captain Sir Thomas Stains, K. C. B. 



$S9 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

ders, that the Foudroyant cut from her anchor, and 
bring the Guillaume Tell to close action, without 
losing a moment's time. Nor am I to leave you, sir, 
mitil all your sails are set in pursuit of the flying en- 
emy, with whom Captain Blackwood is in close and 
interesting conversation." This gentle intimation 
dispersed the ideas engendered by the ruse de guerre, 
and the Foudroyant was crowded with all sail that 
could bring her into the conference of Captain Black- 
wood and Admiral Decres. Our gallant ship (like the 
noble greyhound slipped from his leash) bounded after 
the flying foe at the rate of eleven knots. 

I must here observe, that we had on board a Sicil- 
ian general, the Prince of Palermo, with two hundred 
picked men, going to reinforce and take the command 
of the troops besieging Malta. Now, fair and gentle 
reader ! do not picture to your mind an old man worn 
out in hard service, solacing himself with an immod- 
erate quantity of snufl" dirtily taken ; but present to 
your mind's eye the figure of the Apollo Belvidere, 
tightly girded round the waist, and with a face that 
your brilliant eyes would bestow a second glance on, 
and you have a faint image of this veteran general of 
thirty, the most illustrious the Prince of Palermo, 
who declared, on his most sacred honor; that his 
grand desire was to see the English fight at sea. 
*' They are one great people," said his highness ; and 
leave was granted by our chief to his " grand desire." 
This proved fortunate ; for most of our marines were 
before Malta, and we were short-handed. 

As day broke we observed the Lion, with her 
sixty-four small guns, receiving the smashing broad- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 21 

side of the huge foe. It was a settler, and the Lion 
retired to digest the dose. The Penelope, command- 
ed by the Honorable Captain Blackwood, hung close 
on her stern, and the effect of his well-directed fire 
was seen by the dismantled state of the enemy, who 
now wore to receive us, and like a gallant stag 
brought to bay, showed a noble front to his assail- 
ants. Here, again, our noble captain's imaginative 
turn hoodwinked his judgment. ''Youngster," said 
he to me, " tell the officers of the main and lower 
decks to remain prepared, but not to fire without my 
orders, as I think the Guillaume Tell has struck at 
the sight of us." Little did he know of her chief, 
the valient Duke of Decres, (afterwards Minister of 
Marine to Napoleon Bonaparte,) nor did he calculate 
that this news at the batteries would throw the crew 
off their guard. This erroneous idea was stoutly 
combatted by the first lieutenant and master, who 
judiciously observed, " that no British man-of-war 
would fire into an enemy that had surrendered." 

And " Old Soundings," who, from the peculiar 
conformation of his nose, was better known among 
the midshipmen as '• Rigdum Funnidos," now deter- 
mined to correct his captain, and began in his own 
strange way of prefacing everything with " I am 
thinking, — I am saying," at the same time using his 
right hand, as if taking bearings, (from which he also 
attained the name of "chop the binnacle,")^ now ad- 
dressed the captain as follows : "I am thinking, — I 
am saying. Sir Ed'ard; that is, I am thinking you 
had better reduce sail to working order, pass athwart 
her bows to windward of her, and then under her 



22 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Stern, and whether she has struck or not, it will place 
us in a very advantageous position ; that is, I am 
thinking so — I am saying so, Sir Ed'ard." 

During this admirable speech, "chop the binna- 
cle's " hand was moving in its usual way. Sir Ed- 
ward threw as much scorn into his countenance as it 
was capable of expressing, and, with great hauteur, 
answered thus : " Whether the enemy has struck or 
not, I feel certain that no person but yourself is afraid 
of her broadside." 

*' Chop the binnacle " stood aghast, his hand 
worked in the usual manner, and at last out came 
thinking and saying, " That he was thinking. Sir 
Ed'ard was calling him a coward — that he would 
find his courage equal to his, Sir Ed'ard's — that he 
was at his post to obey his orders, but no more ad- 
vice would he offer ; " and then took his station at 
the conn, in a very sulky mood. 

During this time the valiant Decres was silently 
preparing a settling dose of three round shot in each 
of his enormous guns for us, sustaining with great 
patience the teazing fire of our small craft. We 
are now opening her, and perceive the tricolored flag 
fluttering from the wreck of her mizen topmast, to 
which it was apparently nailed. " Shorten sail," 
said our chief, " and back the main topsail ; " and 
jumping on a gun he hailed the French admiral, who 
(decorated in all his orders, even to the cross of the 
Legion of Honor) stood conspicuously on the poop, 
with his sabre naked in his hand, and a brace of pis- 
tols in his belt. " Strike your French colors," bel- 
lowed our captain through his trumpet, in what he 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 23 

must have thought impressive terms. The French- 
man silently and gracefully waved his sabre — his 
small arm men poured in a volley — their tremendous 
artillery vomited forth their three round shot, the 
concussion heeling us two streaks — the crashing of 
masts and yards, with shrieks and death-groans, at- 
tested well the precision of their aim ; and the de- 
structive effect of their broadside, so closely delivered, 
that our studding-sail booms Avere carried away 
against his main-yard. I had done good service in 
the battle of St. Vincent, in the year '97 ; that is, I 
selected, tasted, and conveyed such oranges, as I did 
not approve for my own eating, to Vice-Admiral 
Waldegrave, and his captain, James R. Dacres, Esq., 
but not, through the whole of that glorious and un- 
precedented victory, did I hear such a fatal broadside 
as was poured into the Foudroyant by the Guillaume 
Tell ; it resembled a volcanic eruption, crashing, tear- 
ing, and splintering everything in its destructive 
course. "Hard up," said our chief, "set the jib, and 
sheet home the fore-top gallant sail," (for we had shot 
past the enemy like a flash of lightning). " The jib- 
boom is gone, and the fore-topmast is badly wound- 
ed," roared the forecastle officer; "look out for the 
topmast, — stand from under." Down it came on 
the larboard-gangway, crushing some to pieces under 
its enormous weight. Still the force of the helm, 
acting on the flying rate at which we had attacked 
our enemy to leeward, (for our captain most magnan- 
imously disdained to take any advantage of her crip- 
pled state,) brought his majesty's ship in contact with 
the leviathan foe ; and a deafening roar of artillery 



^ NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

again rent the sky. The Frenchman, who had fif- 
teen hundred men, had crowded his decks, lower 
yards, and rigging, ready for boarding. The naked 
sabre hanging by its becket from the wrist, the pis- 
tols in the belt, and the determined look of these half- 
starved ruffians, quite dazzled ray vision ; but still it 
took in their valiant admiral, standing in the most 
conspicuous situation, and animating his men both by 
voice and gestures. None who beheld the anxiety of 
our small-arm men to shoot him, and his miraculous 
preservation, could doubt a special providence : his 
men fell around him like corn before the reaper: but 
there he stood in the glittering insignia of his rank, 
upright and uninjured. I saw a marine, who taught 
us the broad-sword, and to fire at a mark, take dead 
aim at the admiral, within half pistol-shot ; just as 
his finger reached the trigger, one of their forty-two 
pounders carried oflf the head, musket, and arm of 
this excellent marksman. Another marine, (a rare 
instance in the corps,) disgraced it by lying on the 
deck, and was thought wounded by my brother sig- 
nal-midshipman, Mr. West, who approached with the 
view of rendering assistance ; but when he found it 
rank cowardice, he obliged the man to rise, under 
fear of immediate death : the poor wretch had scarce- 
ly assumed the perpendicular, when a bar that con- 
nects grape shot passed through both thigh bones 
close up to the hips, and could not be extricated. 
His torture lasted two days, when death relieved his 
suflTerings. 

At this time, my friend West fell across my feet 
with a hideous groan ; a large splinter from the main- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 25 

mast had bared his right thigh bone from the knee- 
pan to the hip: he lived to reach Palermo, and then 
sank under his sufferings.. These, with other shock- 
ing sights, made me feel sick at heart, and I thought 
the glorious pomp of war anything but pleasant. I 
heard the captain exclaim that he was wounded, and 
in pompous terms desired the quarter-master to bring 
a chair, which he filled in great state : splinters from 
the mainmast had struck every person on deck ; but 
fortunately our chief so slightly, that the master af- 
terwards declared that he bound it with a white 
handkerchief for fear of mistaking the leg. 

We were at this time totally unmanageable, and 
cracking masts and yards in close contact with 
our foe, who now tried his last effort at boarding. 
" Small-arm men, and pikemen, forward to assist 
boarders," shouted the chief. ''Request his high- 
ness of Palermo to assemble his troops on the fore- 
castle." Alas ! sorry am I to say that very few 
responded to the martial call ; and the prince shortly 
after passed me, covered with the blood of two of 
our seamen, killed at the cabin guns, his cheeks 
divested of their roses, and the " grand desire " filled 
to satiety. 

" Sare," said his highness, addressing the captain 
of one of the quarter-deck guns, " can you tell me 
where Colonel St. Ange, my aide-de-camp, is gone ? " 

" I don't know," said Jack, with great unconcern, 
replacing an old quid he had just discarded ; " unless 
you mean the spindle-shanked, hook-nosed fellow I 
saw with you when the boarders were called for- 
'ard." 

3 



26 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" Ay, ay, he has de Roman nose ; where shall I 
find him ? " 

'' Below," said Jack. 

" Why for he go below ? " 

"To save his bacon," quaintly said the sailor; 
"heave her breech aft, so, — stand clear," and the 
gun being fired, rebounded with great velocity. 

The dismayed prince, turning to me, asked for an 
explanation of save his bacon. I with difficulty 
made him understand, that, in the opinion of the 
captain of the gun. Colonel St. Ange had not con- 
sulted his honor in going into a place of safety. 

" Have you the place of de safety here ? " said the 
prince. 

"What we consider so — where the wounded are 
dressed," replied I. 

" Sare," said his highness, raising his hat, "I will 
be particularly obligated to you to show me this 
place of de safety dat you have here." 

" Your highness must excuse my leaving the deck, 
which I dare not do ; but by descending two ladders 
below this, you will arrive at the cock-pit, where I 
have no doubt you will find Colonel St. Ange." 

It is unnecessary to say, that his highness was not 
visible on deck again during the action, which still 
raged with unremitting fury. A few thumps in- 
creased our distance from each other, and placed us in 
a raking position for the foe to hammer at. 

" It is twenty minutes, sir," said Mr. Stains, 
" since a gun would bear from the lower deck." 

"I am truly sorry to hear it," said the chief; " I 
wish they would all bear." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 27 

** Do order the Penelope, sir, to tow us fairly along- 
side." 

" Here, youngster, the Penelope's pendants.*' 

" We have no means of hoisting them," said I. 

" Don't start difficulties, boy, but hold the tack up 
on the rail, and I will carry the head up the mizen- 
rigging ; " and our gallant lieutenant climbed the rig- 
ging like a cat. 

" Mr. Stains, I command you to come down, and 
the whole of you, off the poop, for the mizen-mast is 
falling," shouted our captain. 

There was a rush to obey, and in the struggle I 
was thrown down with some violence by the long 
legs of John Collins, our tall marine officer. It took 
me some time to ascertain, first, the safety of my 
head, and then if I had my proper quantity of limbs 
left. To my great relief, I found legs, arms, and 
body untouched, and forthwith proceeded to use 
them, by scrambling off that slaughter-house of a 
deck, and out of the way of the falling mizen-mast, 
which now came down on the quarter-deck with a 
horrible crash, breaking through it, and crushing to 
death the captain of the mizen-top, a very fine lad, 
whose father, a quarter-master at the helm, had only 
a few minutes before been carried down with his 
right arm shot off. Captain Blackwood had seen our 
distressed situation under the raking fire of our foe, 
and his own pendants now approached us. 

" I will heave about, and tow you close enough to 
singe the Frenchman's whiskers." His foremast that 
had been tottering some time, now fell with a thun- 
dering noise, and a heart-felt cheer was raised from 



28 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

both ships. Our larboard broadside now bore upon 
him, and away went his main-mast. — " Work away, 
my hearts of oak, and his tricolored flag will soon be 
under water," responded fore and aft ; though, give 
the devil his due, he is a good piece of stuff, and 
merits better than drowning. 

At this time the only sergeant of marines on 
board, (the rest being before Malta,) a very gallant 
man, was borne across the quarter-deck, with his left 
thigh shot off. The blood played like a fountain, 
and deluged all within its reach. — " Set me down," 
said the wounded man; ''water, water — O give me 
water." He drank eagerly, and fell back dead. The 
body was immediately consigned to the deep ; and 
before I recovered the shock given to my feelings, 
"Youngster," said the captain, "get me the number 
of wounded from the surgeon." 

"Ay, ay, sir," — and not particularly sorry for a 
short respite from such an infernal fire as the Guil- 
laume Tell kept on us, both in artillery and small 
arms. But when I entered the cockpit, and my op- 
tics served me by candle-light from the broad glare of 
the sun, after stumbling against some of the wound- 
ed, I approached the medical tribe, who, with shirt- 
sleeves tucked up to the shoulders, their hands and 
arms bathed in human blood, were busily employed 
in taking the old quarter-master's right arm out of 
the socket, whose only son, the captain of the mizen- 
top, I had just seen crushed to death. 

"Is my boy doing well, mister?" addressing me 
in the low voice of pain. 

I felt choking as I answered, " I hope he is." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 29 

The old man groaned heavily j he suspected the 
truth from the tone of my voice. 

"Pour a glass of Madeira down his throat — he is 
sinking fast," said the surgeon. 

The complication of noises in this den of misery 
— the shrill cry from agonized youth, to the deep 
and hollow groan of death — the imprecations of 
some and the prayers of others — the roaring of 
guns — and the hopes and fears that pervade the 
wounded — formed a very shocking scene, and is 
deeply impressed on my memory, even in the year 
1837. 

'' I am too busy to count the wounded," said the 
surgeon ] " say the cockpit is full, and some bad 
cases." 

This I delivered to our chief, seated on his chair 
in regal dignity, surrounded by young midshipmen, 
his aides-de-camp. 

"I think their fire slackens, Mr. Thompson," ad- 
dressing the first lieutenant. 

"It evidently does, sir; many of the crew have 
deserted their guns, and will not relish their admiral's 
determination to go down with colors flying. He is 
a brave boy, and fights like an Englishman. The 
stump of his mainmast is just gone, and nothing can 
be seen above his bulwarks. Listen to that mutinous 
cry — the rascals want to strike their colors — the 
brave admiral is flashing his sabre around it — grape 
and canister in this gun, and fire on that mutinous 
gang ; for I like discipline, even in an enemy," said 
our first lieutenant. 

Down came the tricolored flag, and " Cease firing " 
3* 



30 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

resounded along our decks ; but one of our lower- 
deck guns gave tongue and killed their first lieuten- 
ant, much praised and lamented by the prisoners, his 
brother officers. The slaughter on board the Guil- 
laume Tell was about four hundred, and in onr ship 
alone eighty, taking in the wounded. Never was 
any ship better fought, or flag hoisted by a more 
gallant man than Rear- Admiral Decres. Our captain 
received his sword, and took it to the commodore, 
wearing half a cocked hat, the other half having 
been carried off by that impudent shot that dyed his 
cabin with the blood of two seamen, and blanched 
the bold front of that pretty dandy, the most illustri- 
ous the Prince of Palermo. 

" Good God ! how did you save your head ? " said 
the commodore. 

^' The hat was not on it," replied our chief. 

Few of the prisoners were removed. The Penel- 
ope took the prize in tow, and one of the sloops our- 
selves. Completely exhausted both in body and 
mind, I threw myself down among the wounded and 
slept soundly, till roused by the cheering of the crew, 
who had, in the Nelsonian style, been assembled to 
return thanks to Almighty God, the giver of all vic- 
tory, and were now applauding their captain's short 
speech of praise of their conduct, which had not ap- 
peared to me extremely commendable ; in fact, she 
was not in a high state of discipline. The men, when 
threatened with punishment for misconduct, applied 
to Lady Hamilton, and her kindness of disposition, 
and Lord Nelson's known aversion to flogging, gener- 
ally rendered the appeal successful. As an instance 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 31 

of which, one of his bargemen addressed her, in my 
hearing ; 

^' Please your ladyship's honor, I have got into a 
bit of a scrawl." 

'' What is the nature of it ? " said she, with great 
affability. 

'« Why, you see, your ladyship's honor, I am re- 
ported drunk when on duty yesterday, to the captain, 
and he will touch me up, unless your ladyship's honor 
interferes. I was not as sober as a judge, because as 
why, I was freshish ; but I was not drunk." 

"A nice distinction ! — let me know what you had 
drunk." 

" Why, you see, my lady, I was sent ashore after 
the dinner-grog ; and who should I see, on landing, 
but Tom Mason, from the Lion ; and Tom says to 
me, says he, ' Jack, let us board this here wine-shop : ' 
so after we had drank a jug, and was making sail for 
the barge, as steady as an old pump-bolt, in comes 
Ned, funny Ned — your ladyship's honor recollects 
Ned, who dances the hornpipe before the king. ' My 
eyes. Jack ! ' says he, * but we will have another jug, 
and I'll stand treat,' says he ; so, you see, wishing 
to be agreeable like, I takes my share, and the boat 
waited for me. 'You drunken rascal ! ' says Mr. St. 
Ives, the middy, to me ; ' but I '11 report you.' So I 
touches my hat, quite genteel like, which shows I 
was not drunk, and pulls on board without catching 
crabs ; and if your ladyship's honor will tell the ad- 
miral that I pulled on board without catching crabs, 
he will see with half an eye that I only shook a cloth 
in the wind." 



32 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" Your name," said " Fair Emma," taking out 
her tablets. 

" Jack Jones — and God bless that handsome face, 
for it is the sailor's friend." 

And Jack, hitching up his trousers, gave a scrape 
with his foot, and bounded off, with a light heart, 
well knowing the powerful influence he had moved 
in his favor would save his back from severe flagella- 
tion. She was much liked by every one in the fleet, 
except Captain Nesbit, Lady Nelson's son, and her 
recommendation was the sure road to promotion. 
The fascination of her elegant manners was irresisti- 
ble, and her voice most melodious. Bending her 
graceful form over her superb harp, on the Foudroy- 
ant's quarter-deck, each day after dinner, in Naples' 
Bay, she sang the praises of Nelson, at which the 
hero blushed like a fair maiden listening to the first 
compliment paid to her beauty. 



THE APPOINTMENT. 33 



THE -^APPOINTMENT. 



He will not come — he will not come ; indeed 't is very wrong 
Of him to keep me waiting thus, I cannot tell how long. 
My feet and legs are aching so with jumping up the seat, 
To see if I could see him turn the corner of the street. 

Go, Jenny, run and fetch my watch, it must be past the time ; 
No, stay, I broke the spring just now, (that clock will never 

chime. ) 
Give me my hat, my cloak, my gloves, my muff, and boa too ; 
I '11 walk alone, and he shall see — (here, stupid, tie my shoe.) 

And if he should come when I'm out, then, Jenny, you may 

say — 
(I've kicked that kitten from the hearth a hundred times 

to-day) — 
Yes, yes, I'll to my cousin Tom's, and he shall be my beau ; 
And for that wretch, whene'er he comes you '11 quickly bid 

him go, 

'T is — 't is — his footstep on the stair ; hark ! how my heart 

is beating ; 
Like some sledge hammer, 'tis so loud; now — now — 

there's no retreating. 
But never will I wait again, no, Jenny — never — never — 
He comes! — Love, have you waited long? Dearest y I'd 

wait for ever ! 



34 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



THE ROYAL VISIT. 

The Foudroyant; with her prize, was towed into 
Syracuse harbor. Arrived at Palermo, and Lord Nel- 
son's flag again decorating our fore-top gallant mast, 
all Sicily flocked on board to compliment the gallant 
men who had brought in a foe so dreaded. The 
royal standard, seen in the admiral's barge, and the 
long measured stroke of the rowers, with the respect- 
ful standing position of the lieutenant at the helm, 
denote that the very highest in the realm are on 
board. The boatswain's shrill pipe called attention ; 
and the words, "All hands man ship a-hoy ! " reechoed 
by his mates through the different decks, instantly 
placed seven hundred men in our rigging, the light 
topmen, that were to ascend the dizzy height of the 
royal yards, in advance. " Away aloft ! " and like a 
flash of lightning they ascend to their respective 
posts, the graceful toss of the bowman's oar, and the 
tune from the boatswain's call, gave the signal to 
"lay out," and our well-squared yards were covered 
by sailors in their long quartered shoes, check shirt, 
blue jacket, and trowsers white as driven snow, with 
queues hanging down their backs, for cropping was 
not then in fashion, while three bold and active boys 
climbed the royal masts, and sat on the trucks appa- 
rently much at ease. 

" Turn out a captain's guard, summon all the offi- 
cers," and six of the best-dressed midshipmen attend 
the side ropes, and plant the silk standard in the 
ladies' chair, into which the hero of England and the 
pride of the navy, awkwardly (from the want of an 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 35 

arm) assisted the Glueen of Sicily and her three 
daughters. "Whip handsomely, and bear her off, 
young gentlemen," and the daughter of Maria The- 
resa, with animated eyes and a quick step, advanced 
to the captain, who gallantly kissed her fair hand, 
while she, with great volnbility, complimented and 
thanked him over and over again ; and turning to the 
officers with inimitable grace, she and her daughters 
presented hands to be kissed by each and all of us. 
For my part, I was so enraptured by the striking 
beauty of one of the princesses, that my salute was 
ardent, and the pressure accorded with my feeling, — 
for I was completely in the seventh heaven, — and 
long did that soft pressure and kiss dwell on my fan- 
cy, and haunt my slumbers. The band played a 
march, the guard presented arms, and the officers un- 
covered, as the descendant of Maria Theresa placed 
her foot on the deck of the conqueror's ship. The 
Sicilian royal standard superseded Lord Nelson's flag, 
and the unfolding of its banners roused the sleeping 
thunder of the squadron. A royal salute welcomed 
this energetic woman, whose slender and perfect form 
seemed to tread on air, while the tender animation of 
her sparkling eyes expressed a warmth of heart that 
prompted her (at least in my imagination) to embrace 
all around her. Very little time did she devote to 
the splendid collation prepared for her ; but with her 
amiable daughters, sought to soothe the anguish of 
pain, and alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. 
The drums beat to arms, and the court inspected the 
quarters on their way to the different hospitals estab- 
lished in the ship ; with every wounded man and 



36 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 

boy they shook hands, 'saying something kind and 
consoling, while their gifts were munificent. The 
princesses shed tears over the sufferings they beheld, 
and enclosed their delicate hands in the iron grasp of 
Jack, as he lay restless on his couch of pain ; but still 
he was an object of envy to me, as the beauteous 
Marie Antoinette bent over him with looks of pity 
that an angel might have envied, while her coral lips 
gave utterance to the most melodious sounds that ever 
extracted the sting from the anguish of the suffering, 
either in mind or body. The last object of attention 
to the royal party was my excellent friend and broth- 
er signal-midshipman, Mr. West, the chaplain making 
way for us. Here was a change shocking to behold ; 
the fine apple-cheeked, bold boy, had shrunk into a 
withered, and apparently old man, by his sufferings ; 
fevered, emaciated, and wan, he lay a ghastly specta- 
cle. Lord Nelson, with great feeling, took him by 
the hand, praised his courage, told him he was pro- 
moted by him, and hailed him as Lieutenant West. 
No emotion was shown by the heroic boy, no other 
word was uttered by him than '' drink ; " the young 
princess, with great promptitude, divided an orange, 
and squeezed the juice on his parched lips. Lord 
Nelson introduced the Q,ueen of Naples and her fair 
daughters as mourning his misfortunes, in which in 
truth they took a deep interest, as they stood by his 
cot in tears ; he exhorted him to look forward to 
long life and high rank in his profession ; the surgeon 
shook his head, and whispered, an hour was the ut- 
most tenure he held of this world, as the wound had 
gangrened. The good-natured hero seemed much 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 37 

shocked, and showed great emotion. The boy, find- 
ing relief and gratification from the kind exertions of 
the princess, opened his eyes with a death-hke stare, 
as she bent over him ; at once he seemed tc compre- 
hend his situation ; the blood again rail d to the 
heart ; the pnlse that had nearly ceased a^iain '-psumed 
its beat ; animation lighted up his eyes; as he sur- 
veyed the beautiful vision, he no doubt thought 
of his far distant home, and its aftectionate inmates. 
I heard him audibly sigh, and saw him make a 
feeble attempt to kiss the fair hand that had so 
kindly administered to his wants ; it was ilie last 
effort of expiring nature; tlie gallant boy dropped on 
his j)illow, — his fine eyes assumed the glazed hue of 
death, — the rattles in the throat gave notice of the 
difficulty of respiration, and the surgeon announced 
him 10 be in his last agonies. Here was a lesson of 
mortality to a frivolous and dissolute court. The 
maids of honor and the officers of the household 
walked off without waiting for orders, first attem[)t- 
ing in vain to move the queen and princesses, who 
evinced deep feeling ; and the sobs of the lovely 
young princess were quite hysterical. Lord Nelson 
in silent grief motioned Lady Hamilton to remove 
the queen, and with the princess royal on his only 
arm, led the way on deck. Our gallant captain gave an 
arm to each of the younger princesses, and the royal 
procession embarked in his barge in solemn silence, 
so different from the animation and pleasure that had 
hghted up their expressive features on their arrival. 
The guard had been dismissed, the band ceas(id to 
play, and silence was ordered fore and aft on the 
4 



38 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

knowledge of my friend's fate. The gallant boy was 
interred with military honors in the ground of the 
Protestant chapel of the ambassador. He died the 
death of a hero, and sincerely mourned by his broth- 
er officers, and was long remembered for his good 
qualities by those who had the pleasure of knowing 
him. — Peace to his manes ! 

THE NELSONIAN BALL. 

The wounded and sick were landed with the ut- 
most tenderness, and well looked after on shore. The 
gallant ship purified, the flags floated gaily from their 
usual stations, and all appearance of sorrow was dis- 
missed. Now were notes of great preparation for a 
splendid dinner and ball, to be given by Lord Nelson, 
to commemorate two great events, the capture of 
" La Guillaume Tell," (the only ship that escaped 
from the battle of the Nile, that was not one of our 
own,) and the marriage of the prime minister of Na- 
ples, " Sir John Act-on," a tall, spare Scotchman, bent 
by age, being on the wrong side of seventy, to a 
beautiful girl (his niece) on the right side of twelve, 
though her appearance was not so juvenile as her 
years ; this abominable sacrifice of youth, innocence, 
and beauty, was made at the altar of Mammon. By 
raising the awnings twenty feet, removing the guns, 
and robing the masts in silk, two spacious rooms were 
given, and these were most splendidly decorated; and 
when lighted up in the evening, really presented a 
very fairy-like appearance, while the music that float- 
ed over the calm waters of this beautiful bay was 
softened. All the nobles of the court, with the ex- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



ception of the king and queen, were there ; the 
Marquis de Neeza, admiral of the Portuguese squad- 
ron, accompanied by his officers, gave a lightsome 
appearance, and took from the sombre hue thrown by 
Mustapha Bey and the Turkish grandees. The cap- 
tive French admiral also excited great and deserved 
attention, and on his health being given by his con- 
queror, made a concise speech, in which he higlily 
complimented Captain Blackwood, and told Lord Nel- 
son, that to that brave man alone he was indebted for 
the capture of La Guillaume Tell ; and to impress us 
with the idea of his estimation of him, embraced him 
French fashion, by kissing each of his cheeks. We 
all perceived, by the heightened color, that the gal- 
lant Blackwood would willingly have dispensed with 
the fraternal hug, — especially when complimented 
by his youthful brother officers on this undesired in- 
stance of the Frenchman's admiration. The youth- 
ful part of the select guests arrived in groups along- 
side the flag-ship, whose brilliant illumination lighted 
the whole bay. When two young scions of a princely 
house arrived in their well-appointed barge, one of 
our lieutenants, who had sacrificed freely to the jolly 
god, excited by wine and beauty, — for one of the 
princesses was really handsome, — rushed to offer his 
services as became a gallant knight ; but, I am glad 
to say, was anticipated with the beauty by a brother 
officer, who had not drunk all the given toasts in 
bumpers. Rather heated, he incautiously assisted the 
sister, whose temper, like her person, Avas capable of 
improvement, and, in his drunken efforts, plunged 
both into the water. The musical screams of nu- 



40 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

merous lovely throats were heard in various intona- 
tions. The well-washed princess, in her drenched 
feathers and finery, was brought on deck, and appear- 
ed a sea nymph of the fury kind. She demanded 
that the unfortunate hero, who was making drunken 
apologies, should be immediately hanged at the fore- 
yard-arm. To this our hero, with his usual aversion 
to punishment, demurred ; asserting that English law, 
both civil and military, did not allow of such sum- 
mary justice * but he pacified the enraged fair one by 
placing the offending officer under an arrest ; and 
Lady Hamilton, in a short time, produced the fury, 
dressed, but with more taste, under her kind inspec- 
tion. Now commenced the graceful and animated 
dance of the Saltarella, far different from our sleepy 
way of walking, like mutes at a funeral, through the 
quadrilles, where each is determined to act the statue, 
— the elastic spring of the deck being the greater 
from the supporting stancheons being withdrawn. 
The animation and vivid feelings of the beaux,— 
the voluptuous and graceful forms of the senoras. — 
the glances of their expressive black eyes and their 
raven tresses, were very striking, — but all this, beau- 
tiful as it really was, did not (in my opinion) outvie 
the modest lily of England, in the youthful Baroness 
of Acton. I have heard she is still a very fine woman. 
Her husband was a good-natured man, with whom I 
have often conversed, particularly on one occasion 
that now occurs to my memory. Two very fine 
calves had been presented to his majesty, in Naples 
Bay, dressed as female fashionables of the highest 
grade j viz. in satin, with ostrich feathers on their 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 41 

heads, which they tossed about as if proud of all the 
finery they were loaded with. This unusual mode 
of clothing calves pleased the king, and threw us into 
uncontrollable laughter. Sir John told us, in a kind 
way, to look at the motive, which was loyalty to a 
beneficent sovereign, and not to attach so much ridi- 
cule to the act. Some strange circumstances attend- 
ed the funeral of this respected old gentleman ; but, 
as I was not an eye-witness, I forbear to detail news- 
paper reports, that might wound the feelings of his 
beautiful and amiable widow. 

Some few of the dancers had ventured to brave 
the beams of the rising sun, while the judicious, ful- 
ly aware that rouged cheeks and uncurled tresses do 
not make the impressions that all female hearts de- 
sire to make, had retired some hours before, accompa- 
nying the admiral and ambassadors. 

The following day we were ordered to prepare to 
receive her majesty, the Q,ueen of Naples, and her 
three daughters, to convey them to Leghorn, on their 
passage to the Court of Vienna ; a seventy-four and 
a frigate were also ordered to receive their suits and 
baggage. 

THE ROYAL PARTY. 

My Lord Nelson in person took command of the 
squadron, and the king escorted his energetic partner 
and daughters on board, and was received with the 
greatest honors paid to crowned heads. Shortly after 
he reached our quarter-deck, Lord Nelson's favorite 
servant, the well-known Tom Allen, formerly a 
waister in the Agamemnon, in a broad Norfolk dialect, 
4* 



43 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

asked his majesty of the two Sicilies how he did. 
The king, fully aware of the liberty this spoilt do- 
mestic tookj very graciously presented his hand to be 
kissed, which the other shook heartily, saying, " How 
do you do, Mr. King ? " to the amusement of all the 
spectators, save his lordship, who ineffectually at- 
tempted to polish his rough Norfolk cast. This 
man, who had a feeling heart under a very rough ex- 
terior, was ordered by Lord Nelson, on the 14th of 
February, to ask every officer, that had been in the 
gallant action off St. Vincent, to dinner. I was hon- 
ored by Tom with the usual invite. " You must 
dine with his lordship to-day." 

" Very sorry I cannot, Tom." 

" You must." 

" I have no clean shirt, and my messmates are in 
the same plight." 

Away Tom bustled up to the admiral, who good- 
naturedly said, I might dine in any shirt, but 7nust 
celebrate the anniversary of that glorious and unpre- 
cedented victory at his table at three o'clock that day. 
This was the first time I dined with the heroic Nel- 
son, whose manners to his inferiors were most concil- 
iatory and kind, his smile inimitable, and when he 
asked me to take wine from his own bottle, the pro- 
duce of the grape grown in his dukedom of Bronte, I 
thought he looked very handsome, though at times 
his face was melancholy, betraying a mind ill at ease. 
Five glasses of wine were all the admiral could bear, 
and Tom Allen led him away, reminding him of his 
sufferings on the following day from the least excess. 
The passage of the royal party to Leghorn was ef- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 43 

fected in turbulent weather; the two eldest of the 
princesses gave way to the debility caused by sea- 
sickness, while the lovely sister, with all the energy 
of the queen-mother, combatted the effects of this 
nauseous disorder. Her hearty laugh at the efforts 
she ineffectually made through the speaking trumpet 
to converse with the ladies of the court, as the squad- 
ron crowded under our stern, still dwells in my mem- 
ory ; for there is an inexpressible delight in the ring- 
ing laugh of childhood, when the whole heart seems 
filled with joy. The queen and her family shed 
pearly tears, as the crew cheered them on their leav- 
ing, and the thunder of the Tuscany cannon announc- 
ed that the royal family of Naples had landed in the 
grand duke's territories. The Foudroyant and the 
squadron made sail for Malta, that still continued in 
siege and starvation. Lady Hamilton either felt, or 
affected to feel, extremely grieved at parting with the 
queen and family ; and to cheer her profound sorrow, 
Miss Knight composed the following song on the tro- 
phies hung in Lord Nelson's cabin. 

Come, cheer up, fair Emma, forget all thy grief, 
Your shipmates are brave, and a hero 's their chief; 
Look around on these trophies, the pride of the main, 
They were snatched by their valor from Galio and Spain. 
Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our men, 
We always are ready. 
Steady, boys, steady. 
To fight and to conquer again and again. 

These arms the San Joseph once claimed as her own, 
Till Nelson and Britons their pride had o'erthrown ; 
That plume, too, evinces that still they excel, 
'T was torn from the cap of the famed Guillaume Tell. 
Hearts of oak, &c. 



44 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Behold yonder trophy, 'tis sacred to fame, 
From Nile's olden wave it was saved from the flame, 
That flame which destroyed all the glory of France, 
When Providence conquered the friends of blind chance. 
Hearts of oak, &c. 

Then cheer up, fair Emma, remember thou 'rt free, 
And ploughing Britannia's old empire the sea ; 
How many in Albion each sorrow would check. 
Could they kiss but one plank of this conquering deck. 

Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our raen, 
We always are ready. 
Steady, boys, steady. 
To fight and to conquer again and again. 

THE CRUISE. 

Lady Hamilton's grief produced its concomitant 
effects upon her frame, for the mind and body are too 
closely allied not to sympathize with each other. She 
was pronounced il) by Esculapius, and perfect silence 
prevailed. Stillness was observed in all parts of this 
Noah's arkj save and except the infernal regions, 
where the jolly reefers held their carouse, and played 
all manner of boyish pranks with impunity. I can 
truly aver that there is more happiness to be found in 
these dip-lighted abodes, than in the splendid cabin 
or wardroom. Divested of all responsibility, the 
midshipman enjoys the present day without a thought 
of the morrow. Our black servant, (a prince by his 
own account,) acting in the capacity of steward, 
cook, and butler, was brought up before a self-consti- 
tuted court, and charged with stealing from divers 
midshipmen (his then masters) their pots of pomatum. 
This loss was the more serious, as a cauliflower head 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 45 

was in those days the distinguishing mark of loyalty. 
The case was proved to an amazing extent, as not a 
particle of that indispensable was left in the mess, 
and the purser's dips suffered as substitutes according- 
ly. '' Colonel Crib" (a nick-name given to the wor- 
thy president from being strongly marked with that 
foe to beauty, the small-pox) called on the black 
prince for his defence, which is rather ingenious, — 
" that massa had the whole of his pomatum back in 
the different made dishes that massa buckra praised 
so highly." This excited both nausea and anger in 
his judges, who reflected with dismay on their delight 
in the savory dishes his highness had so concocted. 
Punishment followed closely on the sentence, which 
was fifty strokes with the sheath of a sword on the 
shin bones, the most susceptible place about a black, 
which the prince endured with the stoicism of a 
martyr. 

But having digressed into the boyish pranks of a 
cockpit, I must return to a more serious subject, (at 
least in Lord Nelson's opinion,) the illness of Lady 
Hamilton, who was very feverish ; and to give her 
rest, the Foudroyant was run off before the wind, 
with her yards braced by, for the whole night, which 
had the desired effect ; for to his great joy, and in- 
deed it gave pleasure to all on board, she was pro- 
nounced convalescent. I have said but very little of 
the husband of this extraordinary woman ; but as he 
lived with her on board, I must now introduce him. 
He was a spare, gentlemanly old man, kind to every 
person, and much beloved. Of the goodness of his 
disposition I experienced a rare and striking instance. 



46 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

One noon, enticed by the savory smell of the viands 
that his highness was bearing to our table, I followed 
them down, fully aware that the last comer was not 
the best served. Just as I with great haste had scalded 
my mouth with a piece of plumb-pudding, for ob- 
serve, gentle reader, the plumbs are barely within 
hail of each other, the quarter-deck messenger an- 
nounced that Sir Edward was on deck, and wanted 
the signal midshipman. Ye gods! how I scampered 
up the ladder, and by the greatest ill luck, encounter- 
ed Sir William Hamilton, tottering down with all the 
caution of age. The concussion was dreadful, and I 
stood bewildered and aghast ! I had overthrown the 
representative of majesty, and seriously hurt his back 
against the steps of the companion ladder. Hanging 
and cill sorts of punishment flitted across my imagin- 
ation. Before I could apologize or recover myself, 
the old man rose from the recumbent position I had 
so unceremoniously placed him in, and with a voice 
of kindness patted me on the head, with a request 
that I would keep a better look-out afore when called 
upon for similar haste. I did not find my command- 
er so placable as the ambassador ; for he not only 
sent me to the mast-head, but ordered that I should 
keep watch and watch there for a week. Lady Ham- 
ilton, with her usual kindness, got the latter part of 
the sentence remitted. 

During the passage we encountered a thunder- 
storm, and the electric fluid struck away our fore-top- 
mast, killing one man and wounding fourteen. The 
Principo Real, a Portuguese ship of the line, lost her 
main-mast that night, with several men killed. Hav- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 47 

ing shifted the topmast, we arrived off Lavalette, that 
impregnable capital of Malta, and anchored close 
within the mouth of the harbor, to prevent any sup- 
plies being thrown in. Famine prevailed in the town 
to such an extent, that the only thing found in La 
Guillaume Tell, was the leg of a mule, hung for 
safety and his special use, over the admiral's stern 
gallery. The expectation of an early surrender, 
formed upon this known state of destitution, I imag- 
ine influenced Lord Nelson, the ambassador, and his 
lady, (she being the only female knight of Malta in 
the world, the honor having been conferred on her by 
the Russian Emperor Paul,) to hope they might be 
present at the surrender. But we were all disap- 
pointed ,• for a young officer, a relation of his lordship, 
having the watch the first night of our arrival, very 
quietly composed himself to sleep, with an injunction 
to the mate to rouse him if necessary. A breeze un- 
expectedly came in from the sea, and the ship dragged 
her anchor. Davis, the mate, kicked his feet with 
information of this event ; but the luf (according to 
a phrase used in those days) was as easy as " Jack 
Easy." 

"Dragging her anchor, is she, Davis ? O, then give 
her cable." 

" She has brought up, Mr. Bolton," reported the 
mate. 

*' O, I thought she would," said the sleeper. 

" But I have a notion within gun-shot of the fort," 
said the mate. 

" Well," replied the careless luf, disencumbering 
himself from his cloak, " I must report this ; " and 
giving a loud yawn, he awoke Sir Edward. 



48 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

^' Very well, Mr. Bolton, we will shift our berth at 
daylight." 

" Ay, ay," said our careless friend, and then re- 
sumed his nap. 

Hunger, I suppose, kept the Frenchman waking, 
and at peep of day he made us a target for all his 
sea-batteries to practise on. '' All hands up," — 
"Anchor a-hoy," resounded fore and aft; and we 
hove short to the music of the shot, some of them 
going far over us. 

Lord Nelson was in a towering passion, and Lady 
Hamiton's refusal to quit the quarter-deck did not 
tend to tranquillize him. When short a-peak, the 
breeze failed, leaving only its disagreeable concomit- 
ant — a swell. 

" Hoist out the launch, and carry out your stream- 
anchor. Sir Ed'ard." 

" Very well, my lord." 

" And youngster," said his lordship, " take the 
cutter on board the Success, and bring Captain Peard 
to take care of the ship;" in a low tone muttering, 
*' nobody here seems capable." 

Just at this moment a shot from Long Tom of 
Malta, now to be seen in St. James's Park, struck the 
unfortunate fore-topmast, inflicting a deadly wound. 
His lordship now insisted upon Lady Hamilton's 
retiring, who did not evince the same partiality for 
the place of " de safety" as our illustrious the Prince 
of Palermo, and leaving them in high altercation, I 
proceeded to his Majesty's frigate Success. 

Captain Peard, who had anticipated such a sum- 
mons, came into the boat, in full uniform, as is usual. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 49- 

wheii waiting on the commander-in-chief. The cap- 
tain of Long Tom of Malta, spying the gold-laced 
hat and epaulettes, sent a shot a long way ontside of 
us. Again he treated us with one that splashed equal 
to a moderate shower; the third struck within us, 
and bounded over in most musical style, and it passed 
near enough to our heads to cause a disagreeable sen- 
sation. The coxswain was particularly alive to the 
emotion, and fell over Captain Peard and myself in 
the stern sheets, carrying me, who made little opposi- 
tion, under him. — "Where are you wounded, my 
man r " said the captain, in a voice of kindness. But 
when he found that the nerves alone suffered, in a 
harsh tone he ordered the coxswain into his box, and 
sat unmoved. He was, in truth, an honor to the navy, 
and merited a better fate. 

After sustaining a severe fire, we warped out of 
gun-shot, and again had to replace the fore-topmast. 
And Lady Hamilton, finding that the French gov- 
ernor would not surrender, until he had made a meal 
of his shoes, influenced Lord Nelson to turn her head 
for Palermo, a much more agreeable place, and where 
the balls were not all of iron. On our passage we 
fell in with the Q.ueen Charlotte, bearing a vice- 
admiral's flag, and found it to be Lord Keith, come to 
supercede our hero. This caused many long faces 
on our quarter-deck, and even Lord Nelson's counte- 
nance wore an expression of vexation, as he arrayed 
himself in his paraphernalia of stars and diamonds to 
wait on his senior officer. The conference was short. 
The successor to the ambassador, Sir Arthur Paget, 
was likewise on board, and our head was turned 
5 



50 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

towards Leghorn, where we landed the hero of the 
Nile and the explorer of Vesuvius, with Lady Ham- 
ilton. We shortly after received the flag of Lord 
Keith, owing to the unfortunate destruction of the 
Q,ueen Charlotte, by fire, a few hours after she had 
quitted the Leghorn roads, which the following let- 
ters will explain. 

the burning ship. 

My dear Friend, 

Ere now you have heard of the lamentable 
catastrophe of the old Charlotte, and the miraculous 
preservation of your friend. I will, as far as I can 
collect my ideas, give you a faint description of the 
horrid scene that keeps my brain in a whirl of agita- 
tion, and will ever remain while memory holds her 
seat. With many of the officers I was on shore at 
Leghorn, intending to accompany a large party to the 
opera, when a rumor reached me that the ship was 
ordered to sea, under Captain Todd. Upon this I 
walked to the admiral's palazzio, and received notice 
to join instantly, as she was then unmooring. With 
a few, hastily collected, we repaired on board, leaving 
many young midshipmen, that had strayed away, 
God knows where, ashore, found the ship a stay 
peak, and heard the "Pipe all hands — make sail 
a-hoy — let fall — sheet home and hoist away," and 
our beautifully-cut canvass stretched upon our square 
yards, decorated our taper masts, with the celerity of 
a well-organized ship, thick and dry for weighing. 
" Brace the yards for casting to starboard," said Cap- 
tain Todd J "and heave and a-weigh." The drums 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. #1 

and fifes struck up '^ Coil away the Hawser," and the 
measured tramp of the men gave life and jollity to 
the scene, and was an excellent accompaniment to 
the heart-inspiring tune. " She is a-weigh, sir," said 
the officer of tlie forecastle to the first lieutenant, as 
the noble ship fell gracefully off to starboard, who, 
returning the salute, reported the same to the captain ; 
and he, pacing the deck, looked a noble sea-officer of 
large proportions. And now, to reflect, that that god- 
like form is reduced to ashes, the muscles that gave 
Herculean strength to the goodly fabric shrivelled to 
nothing by intense heat, the very bones calcined, and 
the whole shapeless mass of ashes buried in the 
ocean's depth — but I am anticipating. At four that 
morning, having kept the middle watch, I left the 
goodly ship under her courses and top-gallant sails 
*' ploughing the waters like a thing of life," a breeze 
having just sprung up, as she had been becalmed most 
of the night. The lighthouse was full in view, and 
not far distant. At six I was awoke from a deep 
sleep by the firing of guns that, from their contigui- 
ty, shook my cot. Alarmed at such an unusual cir- 
cumstance, and with the hurried feet of men running 
to and fro, I made to the ward-room door, upon open- 
ing which, a dense volume of thick black smoke 
drove me back, half-suffocated and bewildered. I 
ran to the weather-quarter gallery ; and there, O God ! 
what a sight burst on my view ! The flames that rose 
from the quarter-deck, and gave it the appearance of 
the crater of a valcano, had just reached the main- 
sail ; their glare was reflected strongly on the agitated 
faces of hundreds of men assembled on the forecastle. 



52 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



*' There is Dundas," said Lieutenant Erskine to me, 
for he had joined me in his shirt, in the quarter-gal- 
lery, " there is Dundas, on the forecastle, endeavoring 
to let go the anchors ; I will join him or perish." 

" Better join the launch," said I, which, full of 
men, was making her best efforts, with only one 
oar, to increase her distance from the burning ship. 
Amidst the roar of artillery and the cries of despair, 
I heard the manly tones of Captain Todd's voice over 
my head ; what he said I could not make out ; but 
poor Erskine, who was immoderately fat for a lieu- 
tenant, made his ascent to the quarter-deck bulwarks, 
along which he was climbing. The ship lurched to 
leeward, the bulwarks gave way with a horrid crash, 
and disclosed what might have passed for the mouth 
of hell, into which my poor friend was hurried in an 
instant. I heard his agonized cry, as the flame, like 
the tongue of a serpent, lapped him in its folds; I 
saw his last despairing glance thrown upon me, and 
the bright glow of the furnace threw a more lurid 
glare as it enveloped him. O God ! it was a sicken- 
ing sight! The sea was covered with struggling 
sailors ; the few boats that ventured near, under a 
heavy fire, which the guns, that were all shotted, sent 
forth, were full, to sinking. Some of our young mid- 
shipmen were in these boats, and forced the cow- 
ardly Italians into the fire at the point of their dirks. 
Both anchors were now cut away, and the noble ship 
swung head to the wind in consequence. I found 
my post much incommoded by the smoke and flames 
that were now blown aft, and with the short ejacula- 
tion used by the publican and sinner, which came 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 515 

from my heart, I plunged into the water and struck 
out for the launch. 

" There is no room, and we cannot take you in/' 
said many voices from the boat. " Keep off, on your 
peril ! " said a discordant one, as I grasped the gunnel 
of the well-filled boat, and a heavy blow broke two 
of the fingers of my right hand, and made me relin- 
quish my hold. I then swam alongside the boat, and 
entreated them to save me. Though a few, with the 
generous quality that characterizes British seamen, 
would have risked the safety of the boat in my favor, 
still the majority were against me ; and the rufiian 
who had disabled my hand sat watching me, ready to 
repeat the blow. To depict my feelings in this 
tremendous scene! — they can be imagined, but not 
described. Under the stern of the burning ship, that 
was discharging her hundred and thirty guns, were 
seen hundreds of men, swimming and floating on 
spars ; in the distance, vessels afraid of venturing 
near the shot and expected explosion of the maga- 
zines ; here and there a few Italian boats, with a 
young midshipman, at the point of his dirk, urging 
them to save the drowning ; one or two from English 
merchantmen, regardless of all danger, loading with 
the swimmers, and dashing into the mouth of danger 
to receive those who, unable to swim, had hung on 
the blazing ship to the last. The flames now shot 
high above the mast-head, and reminded me of an 
eruption I had once viewed of Etna. It was very 
terrible, joined to the cries of the young, the groans 
of the wounded, and the shouts and yelling of the 
burning. Finding myself much exhausted, I struck 
5* 



54 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

out for a man I saw on a grating. " Hillo, shipmate," 
said he, " keep clear, for it is too small for both of 
us ; boat a-hoy ! " hailing one of the English ones, 
" boat a-hoy ! if you have room for a spare hand, 
pick up this poor devil ; as for me, I am doing well, 
and shall make the Isle of Gorgona in three hours." 
Upon which he spread his neckkerchief with his 
teeth and hands as a sail, and squatted on the grating 
apparently at his ease. 

As I was giving up hope, which in general is slow 
to desert me, the boat which the captain of the after- 
guard of the starboard watch — for it was the veteran 
John Nailor, that had pointed me out for succor — 
hauled me in just in time to prevent me from sinking, 
for I had struggled with many a drowning wretch, who 
clutched me, as men in that state will, and in conse- 
quence I had imbibed a quantity of water. I was 
roused from my torpid state by the blowing up of the 
after magazine, which detached the whole of her 
stern-frame from the body of the now splendid lumi- 
nary, that gave an idea of a world in conflagration. 
She now majestically raised her bows high in air, 
with her tapering lofty masts and submerged her stern, 
going down gracefully in the " deep, deep sea." 
Every cry was hushed, and people held their breath, 
as this beautiful fabric of human creation buried itself 
in the waves, and created an immense commotion in 
the agitated waters. A tremendous concussion fol- 
lowed, and "Stand clear" was shouted from the 
overloaded boats, as the mainmast descended from the 
immense height to which it was blown by the grand 
magazine exploding under water ; had it taken place 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 55 

above, nothing could have survived the concussion. 
Down it came, with a horrible crash, tearing all be- 
fore it, and put an end to the miseries of a hundred 
half-drowned wretches. 

My dear Friend, 

You will see by the above that I am partially 
recovering from the extreme depression caused by the 
horrid calamity detailed in my last. That dreadful 
scene of conflagration is ever before my eyes, and my 
nervous system (if sailors are allowed to have nerves) 
will take some time to recover the shock. I still see 
the falling of our poor friend Lieutenant ***** into 
the blazing furnace, reflecting a strong light on his 
agitated countenance, as he turned it full upon me, 
filled with undescribable horror — the piercing and 
agonized shriek, to which I involuntarily responded, 
is forever ringing in my ears — the darting of the 
forked flames, from yard to yard and mast to mast, 
till they soared above the clouds and illuminated the 
most minute object, making all as distinct as the me- 
ridian sun — the numberless sinking and struggling 
sailors — their despairing imprecations when beaten 
off from the already-overloaded boats. One of them, 
I am told, in a violent paroxysm of madness, before 
he jumped overboard, deliberately broke the thigh- 
bones of a boy, and threw him into the boiling 
waters. You will recollect our old messmate, young 
Smithers, the doctor's son ; nearly exhausted, he 
caught at, and grasped, an oar pulled by a person we 
both knew without much esteeming. This person, I 
am informed, cruelly shook him off" to certain destruc- 



56 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

tion, and flew to save a much greater man, whom he 
had seen lower himself from the bowsprit. He was 
successful, and 1 have no doubt promotion will be his 
reward. The last sight of poor Captain Todd was 
on the poop. He then, half clad, had pistols in his 
hands, preventing the quarter cutters from being low- 
ered, and endeavoring to drive the men, intent on 
escape, to their duty. Poor gentleman ! he was a 
gallant and good man. and fell a victim to the all- 
devouring flames. 

The cause of this calamity is, I believe, truly stat- 
ed ; that the ship being ordered so suddenly to sea 
obliged them to press the hay intended for the cabin 
and wardroom stock, all night. When daylight 
broke, our old shipmate Robinson, called by us, as 
you will recollect, Bonaparte, from his dashing ap- 
pearance, and wearing his cocked-hat fore and aft, like 
a midshipman with money in both pockets, being mate 
of the morning watch, commenced washing the main- 
deck. Having swabbed the larboard side, he directed 
the loose hay to be moved over from the starboard, in 
order that it might go through the same process. In 
the hurry of moving it was crowded on the match- 
tub, in which was the lighted match, placed under 
the sentinel's charge at the admiral's cabin-door, 
(every night one being so placed,) without observ- 
ing the match. It soon burnt into a blaze, and the 
quarter-deck was in flames before any check could 
be given. This confined the captain and ward-room 
officers abaft, and the only one on the forecastle was 
the Hon. L. Dundas, lately one of the Lords Commis- 
sioners of the Admiralty, who let go the anchors, and 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 57 

kept the fire from spreading forward by the ship's 
swinging head to wind ; therefore most of the men 
saved were on the forecastle. Had it been an Eng- 
lish port, as we were not far from it, many more 
would have escaped with life. But the Italians were 
afraid of the shot that were dropping in all directions, 
as the ship swung, and looked on prudence as the 
better part of valor. They had likewise a well- 
founded horror of our magazines that could not be 
flooded, and which blew the lower masts high into 
the air, occasioning great destruction to the half- 
drowned and struggling swimmers. I am told, that 
as Lord Keith, after sending out everything from the 
mole that was fit for sea, stood on the outer battery, 
and through his glass saw the destruction of his noble 
ship, the finest in the British navy, the burning of his 
gallant captain, lieutenant *****, and other officers, 
with hundreds of his men, his feelings quite un- 
manned him ; and the big tears which coursed each 
other down his aged cheeks, with his convulsive 
sobs, attested the acuteness of his sufferings. He is 
a kind and amiable man, and has lost about six thou- 
sand pounds in plate and stock. But you will have 
an opportunity of judging for yourself, as the Fou- 
droyant is intended to take his flag ; when, my dear 
friend, we shall have opportunity for many a long 
yarn on this melancholy subject, which is always 
uppermost in my thoughts. Would to God I could 
forget the heart-breaking sights I was then a specta- 
tor of ! they haunt me even in sleep. 
Yours, ever truly, 

■n? w vT tF ^ w 



58 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



THE GALE, 



In the latter end of the month of January 1801, the 
day dawned with every indication of bad weather — 
the mass of dense and heavy clouds, piled upon each 
other, occupied all space to the southwest — the sun 
in his course looked with a fiery aspect — and the 
sea-fowl, with the wonderful instinct that puzzles the 
wise, from their fore-knowledge of the storm, came 
screaming in upon the land — the wind blew fiercely, 
and in fearful gusts — the laboring clouds seemed 
preparing to discharge their overloaded breasts, and 
distant thunder rolled along the horizon — the masses 
of clouds, as they sailed along the ocean, nearly shut 
out the light of day, and rose at opposite extremities 
into huge mountains of vapor. They were illuminated 
by fitful flashes of lightning and looked like giant bat- 
teries erected in the heavens. As they moved onwards 
from the south-west, they shot down vivid streams 
which, at times, pierced the waters like quivering 
blades of fire ; again the electric fluid took an hori- 
zontal direction through the skies, and its dazzling 
streak fluttered like a radiant streamer, until it lost 
itself among the clouds. Comparative darkness came 
on with a suddenness that I never before had observed, 
and the gusts of wind were terrific. During this ele- 
mental war the British fleet under Vice- Admiral Lord 
Keith, and the army under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, 
closely crammed in men-of-war, {armes en flute) and 
transports to the number of two hundred sail, were 
carrying a heavy press of canvass to claw ofl" a lee 
shore. That shore was Caramania, in Asia Minor, a 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 59 

most mountainous, well-wooded, black-looking coast. 
We were in search of Marmorice harbor, the appointed 
rendezvous of the Egyptian expedition ; and the Asiat- 
ic pilots, frightened at the dangerous position of the 
fleet in this tremendous weather, lost the little knowl- 
edge they had formerly possessed of this unfrequented 
and frowning coast, whose mountains towered high 
above the clouds, and on which no vestige of human life 
could be seen. Every glass, in the clearance between 
the squalls, was eagerly turned upon the precipitous 
shore, upon which the heavy waves beat with most 
horrific grandeur. It was self-evident to the meanest 
capacity that unless the harbor could be entered before 
night, the transports filled with British warriors would 
be wrecked on the lee shore, with no chance of assis- 
tance. The men-of-war, by dint of carrying sail, 
might claw off; but the great majority of this fine 
army would, in a few hours, become food for the mon- 
sters of the deep, or the ferocious and ravenous tenants 
of the vast forests that seemed interminable to our 
straining sight. As each withdrew his glass, with a 
disappointed look, the longitude of their countenances 
increased, and the round faced, laughing midshipman, 
lost his disposition for fun and frolic, and all at once 
became a reflecting, sedate personage. 

The admiral, on whom all the responsibility rested, 
endeavored to assume the calmness of tone and man- 
ner, that the honesty of his open nature would not 
brook ; his agitation was visible in the contortions of 
his venerable countenance, and the sudden starts of 
his nervous system. "Fire a gun, and hoist a signal 
of attention to the fleet," said his lordship. 



60 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" They have all answeredj my lord," said the 
officer of the signal department. 

"Now, Mr. Stains, be particular ; ask if any one is 
qualified to lead into Marmorice." 

As the negative flag flew at the mast-head of the 
tnen-of-\var, every contenance proportionally fell. 
At length, with heartfelt joy, I proclaimed, that one 
of our sloops had hoisted her affirmative. 

" Who is she, youngster ? Boy, do not keep me in 
suspense." 

^' The Petrel, my lord." 

I saw an ejaculation of thankfulness rise warm from 
the heart to the lips of Lord Keith ; as he piously 
raised his eyes and pressed his hand on his heart. 
" Signal for the fleet to bear up, make more sail and 
follow the Petrel," said Lord Keith; '■^ Captain In- 
glis may be depended on^ And we shook out a reef 
and set the maintop-gallant sail, which soon closed 
our leader in the Petril. As we approached this 
mountainous and novel land, the idea (and it was an 
astounding one) seemed to dwell on and occupy the 
most unreflecting mind, that should Captain Inglis be 
wrong, every ship, with twenty-five thousand men, 
would be the sacrifice of such error. Lord Keith 
ordered the signal of attention with the Petrel's pen- 
dants. " Captain Inglis, your responsibility is awful," 
said the telegraph. " Are you perfectly certain of the 
entrance of Marmorice ?" 

"Perfectly sure," said the answer, "and right 
a-head." 

" Signal ofiicers on the fore-yard, with their glass- 
es," said the admiral ; and slinging our telescopes we 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 64 

ascended : indeed it was time, for now the roar of the 
waves, as they broke on the coast, throwing their 
spray on high, conveyed a dismal idea of our impend- 
ing fate. 

'' A narrow entrance a-head," called the signal-lieu- 
tenant, Stains. 

" Do the midshipmen make out the same ?" 

*' We all of us discern it, my lord," shouted the 
whole at the very extent of our voices. 

'' God be praised for this great mercy!" ejaculated 
his lordship, uncovering and bowing his head with 
great devotion ; and I do aver and believe that the 
grateful sentiment pervaded every heart in the Fou- 
droyant. 

The entrance of Marmorice now became distinctly 
visible to all on deck, from the contrast of the deep 
still water to the creamy froth on the shore; and the 
signal for the fleet to crowd all sail for the port in 
view, and the men-of-war to haul their wind, until 
the merchantmen had entered the channel, was flying 
at the Foudroyant's mast-head, as she shot into the 
gut of Marmorice. The tremendous mountains over- 
shadowed us, and seemed inclined, from their great 
height, to come thundering down upon us like the de- 
structive avalanches in the mountains of Switzerland. 
We now entered the spacious and splendid harbor, 
circular in its form, and more than twenty miles in 
circumference. It created great astonishment from 
its vast magnitude, being capable of containing all 
the ships in the world, and from its mountainous 
shore with immense forests. In so small a nook as 
to be nearly invisible, stands on a rock a fort, and a 
6 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



few wretched houses, surrounded by a high wall, I 
conjecture for the purpose of keeping out the wild 
beasts, which seemed here lords of the ascendant. 
This fortification displayed the Crescent, and was 
saluted with eleven guns, as we took up anchorage, 
closely followed by our numerous fleet. Scarcely 
had we moored, when the heavy masses of clouds, 
that had rested on and capped the high land, now 
opened upon us in earnest, and the forked lightnings 
darted among the fleet with fatal eff'ect. The gale 
increased to a perfect hurricane, and blew from all 
points of the compass ; the flakes of ice, for they were 
too large to be called hail, came down with such pro- 
digious force as to destroy man and beast ; and who- 
ever witnessed that storm, could entertain no doubt 
of a special Providence in the affairs of men. We 
were all safe moored and the heart expanded in 
thankfulness to the Eternal Power that had watched 
over our safety. Next morning's sun restored the 
usual Asiatic weather, and a venerable Turk, with a 
silver beard, very long, was observed pulling from 
their small settlement with some degree of pomp. 
On coming up the side, to our great astonishment, 
he seized the first lieutenant's hand, and in pure 
English, though with a strong Scottish accent, asked 
which was Lord Keith. This man, 1 heard, was of 
the clan of the Campbells, and had served Djezzar 
Pacha, the butcher of Syria, who one morning cut 
off his nose, and banished him from Acre, his capital. 
He had since risen to the rank of general in the ser- 
vice of the sublime Porte, and was now sent by the 
sultan to concert measures with Lord Keith to expel 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 63 

the French from his sublime highness's territory of 
Egypt. His appearance fully convinced us that part- 
ing with the nose did not increase the beauty of the 
human face divine; but he declared, and we fully 
believed him, that his old heart warmed at the sight 
of the tartan that covered some of the military on 
our deck. Preparations were now made for landing 
the sick, who in the crowded state of the transports 
and troop ships were numerous. The pioneers made 
an open space near the beach, and the sick were en- 
camped under a strong guard, who posted sentinels 
thickly round the encampment. 

The following night was beautifully serene, and 
the suns of other worlds threw their softened and 
pensive light on this minute speck in the boundless 
creation, — the watch, some of whom paced the deck, 
castle-building, and imagining scenes of bliss that 
never were to be realized, while others admired the 
starry vault of heaven, wondering with what sort of 
beings yon myriads of worlds were peopled, while 
the talkers, who could get listeners, were spinning 
many a long yarn of by-gone days and other scenes. 
Crombie, a grey-headed young gentleman, (for all 
midshipmen are called young gentlemen, and with 
whom the youthful lieutenant of his watch common- 
ly created some mirth by desiring him as youngster 
to shin up to the mast head and count the convoy,) 
now seized me by the button, by which he compell- 
ed me to listen to his yarn as follows ; '' I say, young- 
ster, that was an ugly coast we ran down upon yes- 
terday, and reminds me of an occurrence that was 
particularly mournful ; " here he hemmed, and seem- 



64 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

ed to smother a sigh. '' You see, when I belonged 
to his Majesty's sloop, — but it will be as well not to 
mention her name, as I cut and run one day without 
asking permission, — well, we were cruising in the 
latitude, and by old Soundings, longitude, (but that 
by dead reckoning could not always be depended 
upon,) near where brother Jonathan said he had dis- 
covered a dangerous cluster of rocks, to which he 
had affixed the appropriate name of the ' Devil's 
Grip ; ' well, I dined in the gun-room that day, and 
many a hearty laugh at the Yankee notion circulated 
with the bottle, for the master proved, to the satisfac- 
tion of all but one at the table, that rocks could not 
be in the open sea, so many hundred miles from any 
known land, and where the deep sea lead could not 
find bottom, and for which he had often tried in vain ; 
so when the caterer bowed round to signify that the 
mess allowance of wine, viz. a pint each person^ was 
drunk, the first luff proposed an extra bottle, while 
we listened to the most extraordinary youth I ever 
met with, as he, with fluency of speech and elegance 
of manner demolished the master's premises and in- 
ferences. This young gentleman was called the 
captain's nephew, and might, I think, have claimed 
nearer relationship ; he was named Paulo, after his 
mother, Pauline, a Neapolitan countess, who fled from 
a nunnery, where she had been immured without 
asking her consent. She must have been a beauty, 
for her son, though of a very fragile and delicate 
make, was remarkably tall and handsome, with a 
most expressive countenance, generally clouded with 
a shade of melancholy ; he was fond of gazing at 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 65 

the moon, and wrote a deal of poetry, comparing 
ladies' eyes to the bright stars that shone above him, 
all about love, and such other nonsense ; but our 
doctor, who was a learned man, pronounced it beau- 
tiful, and said he was a genius of the first order, full 
of susceptibility, and with nerves too finely strung 
for this coarse and bustling world, — at all events, he 
was universally beloved for his gentleness and kind- 
ness of heart ; at punishment you would see him 
with his hands clasped and his eyes suffused with 
tears, looking up in his uncle's face with such an im- 
ploring look to spare the culprit, while the muscles 
round his well-formed mouth used to work as the 
sharp lash fell on the tender skin of the sufferer. The 
captain was a stern, unbending man, but his iron 
countenance softened at the visible agony of this glo- 
rious youth, who frequently gained his point, and the 
last dozen was remitted. He said, as far as I could 
understand him, that the shell of the earth was tri- 
fling compared to its interior, which was supposed to 
be in a state of fusion, and hence arose volcanos and 
earthquakes, the heaving up of lands that had been 
the bed of the ocean, and the submersion of others ; 
that the vast Atlantic itself was supposed by some 
philosopher to have once been habitable, and a great 
continent. All this was too learned, and made no 
impression on any one but the doctor, so we drank 
the captain's toast, of good afternoon, and went to 
our usual duty ; mine was to keep the first watch. 
Old Soundings, fortified by a norwester, was officer 
of the watch. The gale blew hard, right aft, and 
we were dashing through a heavy sea in merry style. 
6* 



66 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

' I think, sir/ said I, addressing my officer without 
touching my hat, the night being too dark for him to 
notice the omission, (a point on which he was very 
particular,) 'I think, sir, that the sea seems inclined 
to kick up a bobbery to-night, and is rising fast.' 'I 
am of the same opinion, youngster ; but what is that 
a-head ? ' At this moment the look-out man on the 
bowsprit sung out, ' Breakers a-head,' and was reiter- 
ated by the cat-headmen, ' Breakers on both bows,' 
in that indescribable tone of alarm that carries in- 
stant conviction of great danger, and causes a revul- 
sion of the blood. This terrific announcement woke 
even the sleepers, for in less time than I take to tell 
you, every man and boy was on deck, most of them 
in their shirts, — poor dear Paulo looking more like 
an aerial spright than of mortal mould, ran after the 
captain, who went out on the end of the bowsprit, 
and looked steadily around, which required nerves of 
iron, for right a-head seemed a vast barrier of rocks, 
on which the sea was wildly breaking, throwing its 
white spray to the clouds, and on each side, as the 
mad waves receded, were seen their black tops, peep- 
ing through the creamy froth that surrounded us, the 
gallant ship bounding like a greyhound, at the rate of 
ten knots, full upon them, that would dash her to 
atoms ; for she seemed to me to increase her speed, 
probably from an indraught in the reef. Then arose 
the wild shriek of despair from the timid, and stood 
still the brave ; their manly brows blanched, it is 
true, for it was a sight of such horror, youngster, that 
my hair turned perfectly white, and I shut my eyes 
with the sinner's last ejaculation, of ' God be merci- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. &T 

fill to me,' but not before I had seen Paulo, the beau- 
tiful and good Paulo, with the scream of a maniac, 
jump into the boiling surf. The manly tones of the 
captain's voice was heard high above the roar of the 
breakers, 'Port the helm, port, and silence all of you, 
— your lives depend on your steadiness and prompt 
obedience. Master, take the weather-wheel, and 
steer for an opening, two points before the starboard 
beam ; we may find water through the reef where it 
does not break so heavily — brace forward the yards ; ' 
and the lee-gunnel buried itself in the agitated water, 
as she sprung to the wind. ' Let fly the maintop- 
gallant sheets,' — the sail blew to ribbons, and saved 
the topmast. ' Now, master, hard up with the helm, 
and square away the yards ; send her between those 
high rocks where the sea does not break.' The no- 
ble ship leaped between them, while the spray from 
them washed some of the unnerved over the bul- 
warks, and their last despairing cry was drowned in 
the roar of the surf. She steered beautifully in the 
master's able hands, who had frequently declared he 
could turn her through the eye of a needle, and this 
channel between the breakers was like one, and very 
little wider than her main-yard. Nothing was heard 
from old Soundings but ' Port it is, starboard withal,' 
not forgetting sir, at the end of each response. As I 
went to assist him at the wheel, after drawing in a 
long breath, I heard him mutter, ' Who would have 
thought the Yankee notion true ? but it is the DeviFs 
Grip, and a devilish ugly one it is for sartain.' ' We 
are through the reef, thank Almighty God,' said the 
captain ; and it came warm from the heart. ' Master, 



68 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

we will heave to till daylight.' ' Better take a larger 
offing,' said Soundings, ' the devil may have a young 
grip forming in the wake of his mother.' ' Keep a 
good look out for breakers,' called the captain ; ' and 
Mr. Handsail, shorten sail for laying her to.' And 
we hove to, a league to leeward of the most frightful 
cluster of rocks that ever reared their ugly heads 
above the wide and open sea. 'But where is my 
boy, Paulo ? ' said the captain. I advanced, and gave 
my doleful story ; his strong and pent-up feelings 
broke down in a torrent of grief, the big tears coursed 
each other down his weather-beaten cheeks, as he ex- 
claimed, ' Oh ! Paulo, my good and gentle son, Paulo, 
would to God that I had died for thee ! ' There is 
something so affecting in the grief of a strong mind 
like the captain's, so firm, that he retained his self- 
possession in the midst of scenes that paralyzed the 
heart, and blanched the boldest front, that all shed 
tears that heard him exclaim in the bitter accents of 
heart-broken misery, that he was bereaved and deso- 
late, and would welcome death as a cessation from 
intolerable anguish. I alone stood firm, not being of 
the melting mood, though I dearly loved the boy, 
who haunts me in my sleep. I saw him last night, 
plain as I see you, and heard his maniac scream, as 
he jumped into the agitated waters." 

Saying this, Crombie pulled off my button, and 
burst into tears. I respected his feelings too much 
to recall to mind his previous declaration of stoicism. 
<' The master," said he, " called for a norwester to 
comfort him, saying, ' Grief always made him dry.' 
The captain did his duty mechanically, but the elas- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. OVI 

ticity of his step, and his manly deportment, had, like 
his son, left him for ever. He was never after seen 
to smile, retired on half-pay, and soon went to that 
bourne from whence no traveller returns." 

Crombie, who, under a rough exterior possessed a 
feeling heart, now paused in his interesting narrative 
of bygone days, and all on deck that were pacing to 
and fro stopped short, while every eye was turned 
on the sick camp, for from that quarter came a shrill 
and piercing cry, as of human agony in its last ex- 
tremity, mingled with a complication of roarings and 
noises that baffles description. Crombie assured me 
(who was what he called a greenhorn, and Johnny 
Newcome) that the scream proceeded from an im- 
mense number of jackalls, and the other noises, that 
were really deafening, from the wild beasts of the 
forests, who had been drawn together in masses by 
the smell of the sick, on whom they must be medi- 
tating an attack, and from their cry he supposed them 
in a voracious state of hunger, and in great force, sur- 
rounding three sides of the camp, on which, making 
use of his expression, they meant to have a " mortal 
gorge," Crombie's favorite term for gluttony. The 
quick firing of the sentinels, and the sound of the 
bugle calling the troops to arms, induced Lord Keith 
to make the night signal for launches manned and 
armed with carronades, who opened with grape and 
cannister on the forest, and soon drove back the fero- 
cious assailants to their native wilds, while the camp- 
fire threw its wild glare over the romantic scenery of 
this little known but wonderful piece of nature's 
workmanship on the grandest scale. The next day a 



70 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

greater clearance was effected round the camp, and 
quantities of fuel brought in to keep large fires burn- 
ing through the darkness of night ; a petty ojflicer 
and two men were missing at the muster roll, and 
supposed to have been carried off by the monsters of 
the woods. Here we lay till the latter end of Feb- 
ruary, practising our intended operations of landing, 
repairing damages, and healing the sick, the weather 
delightful, and plenty of fresh provisions from the 
Island of Rhodes, to whose governor, the Turkish 
admiral, acting with us, ordered a bastinado on the 
soles of the feet for some deficiency in the supply, 
and it proved a very effective mode. On the 28th of 
February we saw the low sandy coast of Egypt, or 
rather, Pompey's Pillar, near Alexandria, received the 
report of the blockading squadron, and anchored in 
Aboukir Bay on the 1st of March ; unfortunately the 
weather came on so bad as to occasion a heavy surf 
on the beach, the intended scene of our operations. 
During the gale the Foudroyant struck heavily on 
the wreck of the Orient, the ship of the unfortunate 
Bruies, who was burnt in that celebrated action that 
so deservedly immortalized the name of Nelson, 



THE MARINER'S DREAM. 71 



THE MARINER'S DREAM. 

DIMOND. 

In slumbers of midnight the sailor boy lay, 

His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind ; 

But, watch-worn and weary, his cares flew away, 
And visions of happiness danced o'er his mind. 

He dreamed of his home, of his dear native bowers, 
And pleasures that waited on life's merry morn ; 

While memory each scene gayly covered with flowers, 
And restored every rose, but secreted its thorn. 

Then fancy her magical pinions spread wide, 
And bade the young dreamer in ecstasy rise ; — 

Now far, far behind him, the green waters glide. 
And the cot of his forefathers blesses his eyes. 

The jessamine clambers in flower o'er the thatch. 

And the swallow chirps sweet from her nest in the wall ; 

All trembling with transport, he raises the latch. 
And the voices of loved ones reply to his call. 

A father bends o'er him with looks of delight ; 

His cheek is impearled with a mother's warm tear ; 
And the lips of the boy in a love-kiss unite 

With the lips of the maid whom his bosom holds dear. 

The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast, 

Joy quickens his pulses, his hardships seem o'er ; 
And a murmur of happiness steals through his rest — 
O God ! thou hast blest me : I ask for no more." 



< < 



72 THE MARINER'S DREAM. 

Ah ! whence is that flame which now bursts on his eye 1 
Ah ! what is that sound which now larums his ear ? 

'T is the lightning's red glare, painting hell on the sky ! 
'T is the crashing of thunders, the groan of the sphere ! 

He springs from his hammock — he flies to the deck — 
Amazement confronts him with images dire — 

Wild winds and mad waves drive the vessel a wreck — 
The masts fly in splinters — the shrouds are on fire ! 

Like mountains the billows tremendously swell : 
In vain the lost wretch calls on mercy to save ; 

Unseen hands of spirits are ringing his knell, 

And the death-angel flaps his broad wing o'er the wave. 

O sailor boy ! wo to thy dream of delight ! 

In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss. 
Where now is the picture that fancy touched bright. 

Thy parents' fond pressure, and love's honied kiss ? 

O sailor boy ! sailor boy ! never again 

Shall home, love, or kindred, thy wishes repay ; 

Unblessed, and unhonored, down deep in the main 
Full many a score fathom, thy frame shall decay. 

No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee. 
Or redeem form or fame from the merciless surge ; 

But the white foam of waves shall thy winding-sheet be, 
And winds, in the midnight of winter, thy dirge ! 

On a bed of green sea-flower thy limbs shall be laid ; 

Around thy white bones the red coral shall grow; 
Of thy fair yellow locks threads of amber be made, 

And every part suit to thy mansion below. 

Days, months, years, and ages, shall circle away, 
And still the vast waters above thee shall roll ; 

Earth loses thy pattern for ever and aye : — 
O sailor boy ! sailor boy ! peace to thy soul ! 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 73 

LANDING OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN EGYPT. 

On the 8th of March 1801, at nine in the morning, 
all the boats of the British fleet under Vice-Admiral 
Lord Keith were assembled in a triple line, extending 
about a rnile and a half, at a league distance from 
their intended place of debarkation, being that part 
of the sandy shore of Africa called Egypt, and in the 
Bay of Aboukier, or shoals near to the place celebra- 
ted for giving birth to Cleopatra. The centre line, 
composed of flats and launches, were crowded to ex- 
cess with the flower of the British army. These 
were towed by barges and pinnaces, while a line of 
jolly-boats and cutters moved in the rear, to assist the 
disabled. They were drawn up with beautiful pre- 
cision, the captains of divisions in front, while the 
Honorable A. Cochrane, who commanded, was con- 
siderably in advance, with St. George's flag display- 
ed. His barge led the whole of the triple lines. 
Opposite, and immediately in front, lay the French 
army, on sand hills, whose ridges were strongly forti- 
ed with heavy pieces of ordnance, while here and 
there, between the hills, peeped out the flying artil- 
lery, and the cavalry showed in numbers between the 
masses of infantry, that looked sufficiently numerous 
to devour our small but heroic band. On their left 
lay Aboukier (now Nelson's) Island, strongly fortified 
with mortars. The scene was beautiful and imposing, 
the line-of-battle ships lay in the distant perspective, 
with the bombs, sloops, and troop-ships in shore. 
The sun shone with great splendor, and its fierce rays 
shot down on our troops with intense heat. The 



74 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

light breeze that gently rippled the placid waters, 
was just siitficient to gaily waft the various flags and 
colors that decorated and distinguished our diflerent 
divisions, while the heavy crescent of the Turks lay 
dormant to its staff. 

The signal is thrown out to advance leisurely, but 
to keep strictly in line till under fire, and then use 
every exertion to land the troops. Fountain of mer- 
cy and love ! that this splendid and bright scene of 
nature's sublimity should be marred and totally de- 
faced by man ! What answer shall be given to the 
qnestion of the Eternal, " Man, why sheddest thou 
thy brother's blood ? " Alas, alas ! the wholesale 
slaughter of that day ! all that military skill could 
effect in making the intended place of our debarka- 
tion invulnerable, had been done by the French gov- 
ernor of Alexandria ; and for eight days had we, by 
our presence in this bay, given him due notice of our 
intention. To his commander-in-chief, General Me- 
nou, he wrote, " that nothing with life could be 
thrown on his shores but a cat ; " in fact, he had 
rendered the beach impregnable ; and so it was to all 
but the steady valor of British bands. Imagine, fair 
reader ! (if any of the loveliest part of God's creation 
honor me so far,) imagine ten thousand of England's 
hardy sons, full of life and vigor, rushing into an un- 
equal contest that, in the space of one hour, would 
decimate them. Hark! the first shell from Nelson's 
Island ; the roar, the whistle, and explosion among 
the boats, answered by the heart-stirring cheers of 
the British lines. The heavy artillery from the ridge 
of sand hills in front open their iron throats on the 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 75 

devoted boats. "Give way fore and aft," is the re- 
spondent cry to tiie shrieks of the wounded, the 
heavy groans of the dying, and the gurgling sounds of 
the drowning. Gaps are seen in our hue, and the 
brave soldier struggling in the water, encumbered by 
his accoutrements; his ammunition, his three days' 
provision and water, give liim no chance of floating 
till the light boats can grasp him. Now their flying 
artillery, with their long train of horses, gallop to the 
beach, and open their brazen mouths on our still ad- 
vancing boats. That venerable and veteran son of 
war. Sir Ralph Abercrombie, commander-in-chief, in 
the Kent's barge, moving in the rear, now desired the 
lieutenant of the boat to pass through the gaps in our 
line, and place him in front of the fire. " I command 
^'■ou, sir," said the veteran; "my personal safety is 
aothing compared with the disgrace of the boats turn- 
ing back. Example is needful in this tremendous 
fire, which exceeds all I ever saw. Oh, God ! they 
waver — onward, brave Britons ! onward !" This ap- 
parent wavering was occasioned by a shell sinking a 
flat boat with sixty soldiers in her, and by the rush of 
smaller ones to pick up the sinking soldiery. The 
lieutenant in command of the barge respectfully said, 
he had the orders of Sir Richard Bickerton, not to 
expose the general-in-chief unnecessarily to fire, or 
land him till the second division were on shore. The 
British lines closing, to cover their heavy losses, rap- 
idly approached the landing-place. The French in- 
fantry in heavy masses now lined the beach, and the 
roar of musketry was incessant and tremendous ; Sir 
Ralph, in great agitation, again ordered the officer to 



76 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

put his boat in front of the triple line, and was met 
by that officer respectfully declaring that " he would 
obey the orders of his admiral alone." The old gen- 
eral made an abortive attempt to jump overboard, 
saying, -"Without some striking example, human 
nature could not face such a fire ; '^ and indeed the 
sea was ploughed and strongly agitated by the innu- 
merable balls that splashed among the boats, some- 
times hiding them altogether by the spray they crea- 
ted. This was a most painful scene even for a spec- 
tator : our friends mowed down like corn before the 
reaper. But now a change comes over it. A heart- 
stirring cheer is given on the prows touching the 
beach : the soldiers, heartily tired of being shot at 
like rooks, spring from the boats with great alacrity ; 
that eflfective instrument, the bayonet, is actively at 
work on both sides. Our brave soldiers in landing, 
jumped on the French muskets, for the beach was 
firmly disputed, but the home thrusts of the nervous 
British arm, and their dauntless hearts, drove back 
the Frenchmen, who, in regaining their first position, 
opened for their cavalry to charge our line, then form- 
ed, and for the first time that day loaded their mus- 
kets. It was an anxious moment for us, who were 
spectators, to see the fleet Arabian horses moving in a 
whirlwind of sand, upon our half-formed regiments. 
Onward they came, like the lightning's flash. '' Sare," 
said Lord Keith, (in his own broad Scottish accent,) 
to the artillery oflicer of the bomb-ship he was in, 
lying as close in shore as the shoal water would per- 
mit, *' geeve those incarnate deevils ane o' your larg- 
est shells." The explosion, in sweeping the French 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 77 

commanding-officer and nnmerous others to their 
great account, caused a halt and partial confusion 
amongst them. The cool and determined front pre- 
sented by the Forty-second, might, in some measure, 
have created delay in their furious charge. The ma- 
jority drew up, and the well-directed volley of the 
second and third ranks of our line over the front one, 
kneeling to receive the horses of the enemy on their 
bayonets, made them wheel about and retrograde in 
quick time, while about sixty furiously and rashly 
rode in on our troops. Man and horse disappeared in 
the twinkling of an eye, and the whole Ime heard 
cheering orders, " Charge bayonets ; advance in the 
double quick time !" 

These were received with the truly British shout 
that no nation can equal, the determined valor it ex- 
presses carrying dismay to the opposing force. I saw 
the British commanding officer in front, waving his 
men onward with his hat — up the sandy hills they 
rushed, looking to me like a heavy wave, rolling up 
a sandy beach. The French forces appeared astound- 
ed, dismayed, and disheartened ; and their want of 
that steady, persevering, and indomitable spirit, that 
nerves the brave man to encounter misfortune to the 
last, was now observable in their retreat. They left 
some of their field-pieces in our hands, which proved 
most valuable, as they served to freshen up and ac- 
celerate the speed of their rear-guard. Our forces took 
possession of their first line of defence, and bivouack- 
ed on it for the night. In no event, during this 
eventful war of a quarter of a century, did the fine 
7* 



78 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

qualities of our soldiers and sailors display themselves 
in brighter colors than during the landing in Egypt 
on the 8th of March, 1801. 

ALARM OF FIRE. 

"What are the drums beating to quarters for ?" 
called the reefers, as they hastily ascended the cock- 
pit-ladder of the Foudroyant. 

'' Have you not heard," said a wag, the wit of the 
lower regions, " that Menou is swimming off, at the 
head of his army, to take our flag-ship by escalade?" 

" But what has he done with Sir Ralph and his 
army?'' 

'' Eat them for breakfast, before starting." 

But this badinage was wofully changed when the 
loblolly boy, looking like Shakspeare's starved apoth- 
ecary, whispered in solemn tones, " The ship is on 
fire in the gunner's store-room." And as the said 
store-room was not very remote from the grand mag- 
azine, the information created any thing but pleasura- 
ble feelings. As each fell into the station assigned to 
him in battle, a feverish state of nervous twitchings 
might be discerned by the curious observer. My 
place on the poop in the signal department fnlly dis- 
played before me the conduct of my superiors, com- 
monly called by reefers the " big wigs." Sir Philip 
Beaver, commanding the ship, was cool, collected, 
and active. " Let the boarders assist the firemen in 
handing the water below," called he, through his 
trumpet; "and every other man and officer remain 
at his quarters on pain of death. Officers of the 
guard, post detachments of marines on the quarter- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 79 

deck, forecastle, and poop, load their muskets with 
ball, and fire on any person, whatever his rank may 
be, who endeavors to qnit the ship without orders." 

This, said in a stern, commanding tone, withdrew 
the wandering glances I, with many others, cast at 
the placid waters around us ; for the idea of standing 
over gunpowder enough to blow twenty such ships 
into myriads of atoms, was far from agreeable. Lord 
Keith looked pale, and stood without his hat ; his 
feelings, from the recent loss of the Q,ueen Charlotte, 
must have been acute. I saw the smoke rising from 
the fore-hatchway, and every now and then, from the 
strength of the imagination alone^ thought I felt the 
ship lifting under me. " We will have the signal 
ready of distress, and also for all the boats in the fleet 
to assemble round the flag-ship, Thompson," said I, 
addressing my brother signal-midshipman. 

'' Right, my boy ; and we will take our stand here, 
where we can easily jump overboard, if we find the 
grand magazine sending us star-gazing — were you 
ever half-drowned ?" 

'' A little experience that way," said I. 

"Now listen to my short yarn, while you keep a 
sharp eye on the fore-hatchway. Just previous to 
leaving school, I went to bathe with a favorite school- 
fellow, in a pit whose bottom was composed of white 
sand, and about twelve or thirteen feet deep. Jacques 
was the first undressed, and sprang a good distance 
into the pit : all at once I heard his agonized cry of 
distress ; and, with my lower garments on, rushed to 
his assistance. He seemed to me cramped, and una- 
ble to struggle — his head and one hand alone above 



80 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

the water — that hand extended towards me, and his 
eyes, with the imploring look of despair, bent upon 
me. At once it rushed across my mind — may God 
forgive my cowardice and selfishness — that his 
clutch would drag me down with him. I hesitated, 
halted, and kept out of reach, while the poor youth 
was gradually sinking ; but when the water reached 
his mouth, the impeded respiration forced the blood 
upwards and crimsoned his pale forehead ; his orbs of 
sight, that seemed starting from strangulation, assumed 
a reproachful look of intense agony; — the waters 
closed over his innocent head, while I, who could 
have saved him, looked on paralyzed — no other 
hand was near but mine, and that was nerveless. O 
God ! my feelings of horror, fear, and shame, you may 
imagine, but I cannot depict them. I called with all 
my power for help — alas ! none came — I swam into 
the circle caused by his sinking — I looked down, for 
the white sand gave a clearness to the waters, and, O 
merciful God ! I saw his right hand extend itself to 
reach my feet, his head thrown back, and the same 
despairing reproachful look that will ever remain fixed 
in my heart and mind while memory retains her seat. 
I was mad with terror, and remained spell-bound to 
the spot where the unfortunate Jacques lay beneath 
me, his right hand still extended, with the fingers 
clutched on its palm. He moved one of his legs, 
with a convulsive motion, and half raised his body to 
a sitting posture. It was the last expiring efifort of 
nature — he fell on his back, and remained motion- 
less. I see by your averted looks that you hate 
me, but your hate cannot exceed my own. I have 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 81 

only to plead my youth and a constitutional timidity, 
owing, I think, to excessive foresight or anticipation. 
You perceive my nerves are as firmly strung at this 
moment of peril as your own, and I am confident I can 
meet danger and death with unshrinking fortitude ; 
but I have a hesitation of incurring that peril; and, 
as my father truly observed, on the melancholy death 
of my friend Jacques, I am one more inclined to act 
with prudence than rash courage, which, in a sar- 
castic way, he denominated the better part of valor." 

At this moment one of the junior officers came 
hastily up the quarter-deck ladder, calling to Captain 
Beaver not to be frightened, as the fire was got 
under. 

^'Pray, sir," said our gallant chief, " what sort of 
a sensation is fear ? I knov/ it not, but I see how it 
looks. Beat the retreat, and pipe to dinner." 

THE DEATH OF ABERCROMBIE. 

On the 20th of March a Bedouin Arab sought Sir 
Sidney Smith in the British camp, established before 
Alexandria. These Arabs (who are the robbers of 
the Desert) came into the camp every morning thou- 
sands strong, forming a daily market of mutton, fowl, 
buffalo beef, and vegetables, which, under excellent 
regulations, were sold at a very reasonable rate. 
Their appearance was wild and interesting, and the son 
frequently led the ass that conveyed his blind father, 
numbers having lost their sight from the *' ophthal- 
mia," that dreadful scourge of the Egyptian shore. 
The Arab's information was important. He was 
sent by his chief to say, that a large reinforcement of 



82 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Frenchmen, with the commander-in-chief, Menou, 
had been tracked and harassed by his band from 
Grand Cairo to Alexandria, into which place they had 
thrown themselves last night. On this important 
information the order of the day commanded the as- 
sembling of the troops two hours before the usual 
time, (which had hitherto been daylight.) 

On the following morning the men were mustering 
in the trenches and batteries, when the videttes rode 
in at a furious rate, their horses covered with foam. 
Their information convinced us of the discernment 
of Sir Sidney Smith in anticipating their measures. 
A numerous French army were advancing rapidly 
against us, stealing upon us in the darkness of the 
night. In came our advanced posts, who had been 
ordered to retire on the main body, if overpowered. 
This was now the case, and they stated the advanc- 
ing enemy to be in great force, and in a most excited 
state, from the quantity of brandy that must have 
been administered to them before they left Alexandria. 
Now the heavy and measured tread of the masses of 
infantry broke on the silence of the stilly night, 
while the neighing and prancing of the war horse 
gave intimation of the cavalry being in great force on 
each flank of the advancing army. The stillness of 
death prevailed in our camp, save and except the 
dashing of the aides-de-camp in front of the line as 
they flew with the orders of the general-in-chief to 
the diiferent batteries not to throw away their fire, 
but reserve the grape and canister till the enemy 
touched the muzzles of the guns. As our troops 
closed their files with bayonets glittering, which 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 83 

might be distinguished by the watch-fires, that threw 
a hirid ghire over our well-formed line, showing the 
firm determination of the troops by their compressed 
lips and the nervous grasp by which tliey held their 
muskets, their long and hard drawn breath, the left 
foot sligiuly advanced, and the whole carriage beto- 
kening a firm determination to do or die, convinced 
the observing that their nerves Avere well braced to 
the coming deadly encounter. " Silence and steady, 
men," were the words of command heard along the 
line. Their trumpet sounded a charge, and every- 
thing was in wild commotion. 

The British cheer rung high above the sharp vol- 
leys of musketry, the batteries threw in their death- 
dealing round, but the French army advanced in rapid 
style, overthrowing all before them, till the British 
bayonet transfixed their front rank ; even that did not 
force them back. The survivors rushed on, and when 
day broke, never were hostile armies more intermin- 
gled ; here a Frenchman and there an Englishman. 
Now came the deadly strife of man to man ; and the 
brave veteran who commanded in chief (he was up- 
wards of seventy !) was engaged hand to hand with a 
young French dragoon, and would have fallen under 
the weight of his sabre cuts, had not a friendly bay- 
onet lifted the man out of his saddle, leaving his 
sword entangled in Sir Ralph's clothes. The gallant 
veteran seized the sword, and shortly afterwards was 
shot close up to the hip joint, by a musket ball lodg- 
ing in the bone. The anguish must have been acute; 
but no symptoms, not even a groan, made known that 
he was suffering ; when obliged to acknowledge him- 



84 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

self wounded, he called it slight, and refused to retire 
to the rear. 

Captain Lord Proby, now addressing the comman- 
der-in-chief, to whom he was aide-de-camp, reported 
the enemy to be retreating, covered by their cavah-y ; 
"But good God, general, you are seriously wounded, 
your saddle is saturated with blood. Let me support 
you to the rear, and for all our sakes let the surgeons 
examine you." 

*• My lord, I thank you," said the veteran, with a 
faint voice ; " but in these stirring times the general 
should be the last person to think of self. My lord, 
order a forward movement, and hang fiercely on the 
retiring foe. Desire Hompesh's dragoons to cut 
through their rear-guard, and follow them closely to 
the walls of Alexandria." Seeing hesitation and 
great concern in the ingenuous, youthful countenance 
of Lord Proby, Sir Ralph added with sternness, " See 
my orders instantly obeyed, my lord." 

And the aide-de-camp, dashing his spurs into the 
flank of the swift Arabian, flew along the line, vocif- 
erating the orders of — " Forward ! forward ! " at the 
same time despatching the first dragoon he met with 
to Colonel Abercrombie, stating his opinion that his 
father was bleeding to death on the field with a gun- 
shot wound. Sir Ralph, seeing Sir Sidney Smith's 
horse shot under him, now desired his orderly servant 
to remount him; while Sir Sidney (who was wound- 
ed) was thanking the general. Colonel Abercrombie 
galloped up, " Dear father, has your wound been ex- 
amined ? " 

Sir Ralph, who was sinking fast from loss of blood, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 85 

now turned affectionately to the manly form of his 
son, who stood at his side in a visible agony of sus- 
pense, muttered the words, "A flesh wound — a 
mere scratch," and fell fainting into his arms. 

He was quickly borne by orderly sergeants to the 
rear, where the wound was pronounced of a danger- 
ous nature. Fortunately the Foudroyant's launch 
had just reached the beach with boats of the fleet to 
convey the wounded off to the shipping ; and the 
hero of sixty-five, in an insensible state, was con- 
signed to the tender care of his son, exposed to the 
fierce sun, whose rays shot down hot enough to melt 
him. Colonel Abercrombie held one of his hands, 
while tender commiseration clouded his manly brow. 
I saw this gallant and good old warrior extended on a 
grating, coming alongside the flag-ship, his silvery hair 
streaming in the breeze that gently rippled the placid 
waters — his venerable features convulsed with agony, 
while the sun darted fiercely on him its intense rays, 
combining with his wound to occasion the perspiration 
to pour down his forehead like heavy drops of rain ; 
yet he commanded not only his groans, but even his 
sighs, lest they should add to the evident anguish 
depicted in Colonel Abercrombie's countenance, as he 
wiped the perspiration from his father's face. 

" We are near the Foudroyant, my dear sir ; swal- 
low a little of the contents of my canteen, it will ena- 
ble you better to bear the motion of being hoisted in." 

" Send the quarter-master below to sling the gen- 
eral," said Lord Keith, "and select careful hands to 
the whip;" and his lordship's countenance expressed 
the deepest commiseration. " Now whip handsome- 
8 



86 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

ly ; bear off the side, gentlemen ; for God's sake do 
not let the grating come in contact with anything. 
High enough — lower handsomely — see that the 
bearers are equally tall. Now rest the grating gently 
on their shoulders ; " and his lordship gazed on the 
suffering countenance of the ancient soldier. 

" I am putting you to great inconvenience," said 
Sir Ralph; and added, in faltering accents, "I am 
afraid I shall occasion you much more trouble." 

" The greatest trouble, general," and Lord Keith 
took hold of one of the wounded man's hands, "is 
to see you in this pitiable situation." 

Lord Keith pressed, relinquished the hand and 
burst into tears ; nor was there a dry eye that wit- 
nessed the sufferings of this venerated and venerable 
warrior. He lingered in acute pain three days, and 
his body was sent down to Malta. He was father to 
the present learned Speaker of the House of Com- 
mons, and as a man or a soldier was never excelled. 
Peace to his manes ! 



LOVE AND PASSION. 8T 



. LOVE AND PASSION. 

BY MRS. CRAWFORD. 

Young Love was sick, and like to die; 

Poor Hymen in despair, 
With changing cheek and dewy eye. 

Asked who should be his heir. 

*' My bow and arrows I bequeath 

To Passion," Cupid said ; 
" To Friendship, every blooming wreath, 

That whilom decked my head." 

Love died ; and Friendship kissed the flowers, 

And placed them on her brow; 
And bright in earth's secluded bowers, 

You '11 find them blooming now. 

But Passion, when poor Love was dead. 

With bow and arrow dight. 
To courts and city lightly sped. 

Like gay and gallant knight. 

As beautiful as Love he seemed, — 

His kindling eye the same ; 
But in his selfish heart he dreamed 

What Love had blushed to name. 



LOVE AND PASSION. 

In blighted fame and blighted hearts 

The arch deceiver joyed ; 
At beauty aimed his poisoned darts, 

And what he loved, destroyed. 

Yet when he swept his golden lyre, 
And sung, as Love had sung, 

Hope fluttered o'er the tuneful wire, 
And on his accents hung. 

But Hymen wept ; for well he knew 

How Passion ruled below, 
His purple torch would burn for few, 

Nor burn with steady glow. 

For Love's pure flame, like holy fire 

By vestal virgins fed, 
Burns on unwasted and entire. 

O'er heart and spirit spread. 

But Passion (like the wandering light, 

Betraying as it flies) 
Leaves to a darker, deeper night. 

The heart, that trusting dies. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 8§ 



GUN-BOAT ATTACK. 

'' We will play Old Snuffy a trick this evening," 
said my very youthful commander (for I believe 
he had not numbered sixteen years) to me, as, in 
company with the squadron, we were standing in 
for the Spanish main under the command of the re- 
spectable commodore, designated by my captain, as 
Old Snuffy. 

"In what way, sir? " replied I. 

" Why, as soon as the sun goes down, up stick and 
make all sail for the Gulf of Mexico, where we are 
sure to make our fortunes." 

This was a clincher, and no person disputed the 
propriety of such conduct, which was pursued to the 
very letter, as his Majesty's sloop made the town of 
Carthagena on the succeeding evening. 

" Hoist the yaul and gig out, and select your men 
and officers," said my commander, "and pick up all 
you can, for we are not known to be on the coast." 

" Had we not better anchor the sloop, with a spring 
on her cable, first ? " 

" No, no, be off, and leave her to me." 

And we did leave her as commanded, to pull round 
Bird Island, and into the Boccachica. We were all 
strangers to the West Indies, having shortly before 
arrived from England. 

" Jack Whitewood," said I to the master, " pull 
foot for yonder latteen-rigged boat, and bring her 
down to the commodore. What is her cargo ? " 

" Melons and pumpkins." 
8* 



90 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" Select a supply of the best melons for the boats, 
and let her go anywhere but to Carthagena." 

And we lay on the oars, and indulged in a mortal 
gorge on melons, letting the boat drift at the caprice 
of the currents. This was employment very passa- 
ble in a West India night, and served to while away 
the lingering hours of darkness. As day began to 
dawn, we gave chase to eleven large latteen-rigged 
boats ; but observing they appeared warlike, and 
made no show of avoiding us, I called the gig along- 
side, and lay upon our oars. 

" Let us wait for broad daylight, Jack Whitewood, 
they may be gun-boats, and we shall have caught a 
Tartar, instead of making our fortunes. There is up 
square sail, and out sweeps, by Jupiter ! They are 
what I suspected, and full of men, with a long gun 
in their bow. Now, boys, stretch to your oars ; for 
if taken, into the mines they will pop us. Coxswain, 
steer close in with Bird Island, and look out for sunk- 
en rocks." 

The coxswain, whose name was Burroughs, had 
narrowly escaped the fate of Parker and other active 
mutineers in '98. He was a good seaman, a high- 
spirited ruffian, and filled the situation of boatswain's 
mate in the sloop with credit to himself; but he was 
a complete dare-devil, and a dangerous man. " Sir," 
said he, addressing me respectfully, '' the gun-boats 
are gaining rapidly on us, for the breeze has fresh- 
ened, and they will speedily open their fire. I would 
advise you to land on Bird Island, destroy the boats, 
and cross to the side where the brig will see our sig- 
nals, and take us on board." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 91 

" Very good," whispered the talkative midshipman 
by my side, who had been entertaining me with a 
glowing account of the mines of Potosi, and the 
pleasure we should experience in digging up gold and 
silver for others during the remainder of our lives. 
"A capital idea!" said he; ''and I trust, sir, you 
will act upon it." 

" And get murdered by him for so acting," replied 
I. *' The devil-may-care boy would desire no better 
sport than to prey on Carthagena as captain of such 
a gang, well armed as they are. Now, observe how 
the villain is edging her in shore. Gig, ahoy ! Jack 
Whitewood, speed for the brig, and bring her down 
to our assistance." 

'' Ay, ay, sir ; though truly sorry to leave you in 
such a slow coach to experience the tender mercy of 
these guarda-costas. They will put you into the 
mines, never to see the light of the sun again." 

" Lads, you hear what Mr. Whitewood says, and 
it is true. If our officers, who are very young, covet 
such a situation, we shall be great fools to allow them 
to sacrifice us." 

During this mutinous speech I had been working 
up my nerves for a deed of horror, — to shoot the 
coxswain through the head. Burroughs looked around 
to mark the impression made by his speech on the 
men. During this time I had worked my resolution 
up to the sad necessity of imbruing my hands in hu- 
man blood, as an act of self-preservation, and of duty 
to my country. Drawing a loaded pistol from my 
breast, and placing it to his head, *' Another word, 
Burroughs, and you are a dead man. Obey my orders 



92 NELSONTAN REMINISCENCES. 

instantly, and in silence ; take the stroke oar." The 
ruffian rolled his fierce eyes over me. He saw de- 
termination in my looks, and heard it in my voice. 
The clink of cocking the pistol had evidently not 
escaped his notice or hearing, and the expression of 
his eyes plainly said, '' If I give this stripling as food 
for fish, will the crew join me, or surrender me up to 
justice ? " I watched every motion with intense 
anxiety, and whispered to the gallant and loquacious 
youngster, now a post captain, to fire on any one of 
the crew that rose to succor Burroughs. He reluc- 
tantly and slowly lowered his murderous gaze, and 
took the stroke oar. 

'^ Now, Thompson," calling to the man he had re- 
lieved, " take the helm, and keep her close in shore, 
with a good look-out for sunken rocks. Throw every- 
thing out of the boat but your arms, tear up the bot- 
tom boards, and lighten her in every way. Now put 
your trust in God, and give way ; and, with coolness 
and resolution, I have little doubt but we shall escape 
the dreaded mines of Potosi ; at all events, we will 
sell our liberty dearly. Give way fore and aft, and 
mind your steerage." 

At this moment the foremost gun-boat loaded, and 
ran forward her long gun, which they trained and 
pointed on the yaul. Our muskets were ranged 
in the stern sheets ; and the sitters, consisting of the 
officers and two marines, now threw a glance on the 
foremost foe, and gazed on each other, awaiting, with 
all the patience they could muster, the efi'ect of the 
round and grape momentarily expected. " By God ! 
she is on the rocks," said Burroughs, breaking his 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 93 

moody and sullen silence. She was, and over on her 
beam ends. I breathed more freely on observing the 
second boat stopping to assist her consort ; and after 
a heavy pull against the current, we got on board the 
brig, and, unfortunately, after the young captain had 
dined. To the joint advice of the master and my- 
self to take an offing for fear of a night attack from 
such a formidable force, his reply was, that if they 
dared to attack his Majesty's sloop under his com- 
mand, he would blow them into a place not to be 
named to ears polite. As this in some measure con- 
veyed a reproof, we made our bow, and retired to our 
cabins to obtain some repose, of which we all stood 
in need. 

" Sir, coflfee is ready," said my servant, waking me 
out of a profound nap. 

" Coffee before quarters ? " replied I. 

" No," said my youthful captain, ^* I would not al- 
low those who appeared so fatigued to be disturbed ; 
and the second luff and I have put the brig in order, 
to receive your friends, who were so desirous of your 
company this morning, if they dare presume to at- 
tack us." 

Saying this, my youthful commander seated him- 
self at our table. 

The heavy report of a gun, the whistle, a crash, 
the death groan of Richard Bennet, our senior mate, 
and the agonized shriek of our steward, Saunders 
Lackey, whose legs were shot off, were all heard the 
next instant. The cabin-boy had likewise his arm 
broken by this most disastrous shot, whose effects 
from its suddenness seems to have paralyzed us. 



94 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

*' Pipe to quarters," shouted I, and rushed upon deck, 
closely followed by all that were able, from the cabin. 
Here I found darkness and confusion. The men, 
alarmed at the rushing of the water into the sloop, 
(for the shot had hit us below the water-mark,) now 
stood huddled together. " To your quarters," cried 
I, "and cast loose your guns. Can any person make 
out the gun-boats ? " 

'' Here is the spy-glass," said the youngster of the 
watch, with which I swept the horizon. 

" There they are," said I, to the young captain, 
" eleven in number, pulling up in three divisions on 
our larboard quarter. Break off the after guns and 
haul upon the starboard spring, — veer away cable." 

" The spring has slipt up to the bows," called the 
second luff, from the forecastle. 

" This was bent by a lubber," said I to my com- 
mander. '' We must cut from the anchor, sir, and 
get on the sweeps." 

" Do as you think best," was the reply ; and we 
accordingly cut, and with the sweeps kept her head 
seaward. Burroughs, with great activity and courage 
got out two long guns aft, and commenced firing on 
the gun-boats, which, by this time, were close on our 
stern and quarters, keeping up an incessant fire from 
their bow-guns and musketry, and with great yelling 
and shouting, evincing a disposition to board. 

At this moment Mr. Mather, the boatswain, an 
Irishman, above six feet in height, and well-propor- 
tioned, came aft to me, and pulling off his hat with 
the greatest coolness, said, " By Jasus, sir, these wild 
devils will be on board us, if you do not check them 
by a broadside." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 95 

The advice was sound, and the mode of delivery 
at such an exciting time unique. This excellent 
warrant-officer, when he heard our youthful com- 
mander read his commission, opened his goggle eyes 
to a larger extent than usual, and with an inimitably 
ludicrous smile, asked me if it was not a joke ; but 
when assured by me that it was downright earnest, 
slapped his thigh, and in a strong Hibernian accent, 
said, " That bates Bannagher." 

" Lay the sweeps athwart, and load the larboard 
guns with grape and canister, — hard a starboard the 
helm, and fire as you bring them to bear, taking great 
care not to waste your shot." 

The sweeps, that had only given us steerage-way, 
thus enabled us to bring our larboard broadside full 
upon them, and the eighteen-pound carronades, from 
the crowded state of the boats, did infinite execution, 
and put a stop to their yells, shouting, and disposition 
to board. They immediately retrograded and left us 
without further molestation. 

Having got sail on the brig, — for a light breeze 
had sprung up, — I went below to contemplate a 
most melancholy sight, the mutilated remains of our 
steward and Richard Bennet. Here was my young 
commander, weeping bitterly over the bodies, and 
accusing himself as the cause of their destruction. 
Lackey's legs were shot ofi" close up to the hips ; and 
as the surgeon (who was a Scotchman) was attempt- 
ing to get tourniquets on the stumps, the poor, 
wounded Highlander, with that strong love for coun- 
try that so exalts them, dwelt entirely on his far-dis- 
tant home. " O, Scotland ! " said he, kissing the 



96 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

doctor's hand, *' I thought I should never see your 
bonny hills again." 

But Bennet, — poor Richard Bennet ! it was only 
the day previous to sailing from Port Royal, that he 
came to me the very personification of perfect happi- 
ness. The cause was a letter from the commander- 
in-chief's secretary, promising him the first vacancy. 
" O the exquisite pleasure the knowledge of this will 
give to thee, thou matchless piece of Nature's work- 
manship ! " apostrophizing a miniature that he rap- 
turously kissed. 

" Will you let me see it, Bennet ? " — and he pre- 
sented me with the likeness of a beautiful girl of 
eighteen, on whose alabaster and polished brow 
modesty sat enthroned, while her celestial blue eyes 
gave indication of a warm, affectionate heart, gov- 
erned by a well-regulated mind ; but I can feel the 
effect of female loveliness more vividly than I can 
describe it. " She is all that youthful poets fancy 
when they love," observed I, '^ and you are a most 
fortunate youth in possessing Heaven's best gift, a 
virtuous female's heart." 

'' O, sir, did you know that heart ! it is the seat of 
every good feeling. My blessed Susette ! " And 
again he rapturously pressed the picture to his lips, 
while his heart beat wildly as he replaced the minia- 
ture on it. 

I thought of these things, and turned away much 
depressed, taking the miniature and a lock of the 
brown tresses that clustered round his handsome fore- 
head, mentally vowing to place them in Susette's 
possession the first opportunity ; and I kept that vow, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 97 

and found a dying angel, looking more ethereal than 
mortal. It was at the close of day, when a bright 
July sun was on the point of setting, that I arrived at 
the very pretty cottage of Susette's mother. I trem- 
ulously stated who I was to the most respectable- 
looking matron T ever saw, of French extraction. In 
broken and bitter accents of heart-felt grief, she told 
me her daughter's death was daily looked for, and re- 
quested time to prepare her to see me. At last she 
expressed a wish to see the friend of Richard Bennet, 
and I was admitted to the fairest daughter of Eve, 
that ever found this world unequal to its tender blos- 
soms. She was propped up with pillows, near the 
open lattice of her bed-room, that was clustered with 
roses. Her white dress and the drapery of the room 
accorded with the angelic vision, who now turned her 
lustrous orbs upon me. They would have been too 
dazzling, had not bountiful Nature, in pity to man, 
veiled them in long fringed eyelids. She held out 
her transparent hand, and gently pressed mine, as I 
knelt to kiss it ; and as she felt my tears drop on it, 
softly murmured, ''I wish I could cry, it would re- 
lieve my poor heart." She gasped for breath and 
respired with great difficulty. " The lock of hair, — 
quickly, while I can see it." She caught at it, wild- 
ly pressed it to her lips and heart, and fell back. Her 
mother and 1 thought she had fainted, but her pure 
and innocent soul had returned to God that gave it. 

THE YOUTHFUL COMMANDER'S CRUISE. 

The bodies of the slain were committed to the 
deep the following morning with due solemnity, and 
9 



98 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

sincere grief, particularly from my youthful captain, 
who abstained from his favorite pastime of hopscotch 
that evening. Shade of Bendow, rise to rebuke the 
degeneracy of your successors ! The captain of a 
British sloop of war playing at hopscotch with the 
boys of the vessel on his own quarter-deck ! '■'■ Who 
is for hopscotch? " said our noble commander of an 
evening, directing his question to his officers in the 
gun-room. The usual exclamation of " the devil ! " 
and a stare at each other, was our mode of relieving 
this out-of-the way invitation. " Jack Whitewood," 
said our commander, " will you not take a hop ? '* 
Jack gave his lengthened visage a most inimitable 
twist, as he discarded his old quid in favor of a larger ; 
and with an aside that beats cock-fighting, answered 
loudly, *' Ay, ay, sir ; " at the same time putting the 
best foot, (for one of them was defective,) for the 
purpose of kicking a bung about in certain squares, 
bearing the names of Little Jack, Big Belly, &c. &c. 
These innocent amusements, and officer-like recrea- 
tions, though they enabled Jack Whitewood to trick 
himself into the birth of master-attendant, did not 
tend to preserve discipline, nor terminate amicably ; 
for they were often the occasion of punishment, until 
the sturdy young rogues were flogged into the opinion, 
that the captain kicked the bung with more skill than 
themselves, and was of course the best hopscotch 
player on board his Majesty's sloop. We cruised and 
toiled day and night, but caught no fish, though once 
we threw away a most excellent chance. A small 
American ship, at the close of day, who had not led 
us a dance in chase, hove to, in very polite style, to 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 99 

receive our boarding officer ; and was much praised 
for his civility in allowing us, without squabbling, to 
impress two of his prime seamen, which {entre nous) 
my youthful commander was fond of doing. In con- 
sequence of this kindness, and presents well applied, 
the search on board was not rigorous, and the show 
of each other's colors said good-by in a most friendly 
manner. Forty-eight hours after parting company, 
the impressed men stated that she had loaded with 
money in Vera Cruz for Havanna ; and although we 
used our best endeavors to anticipate her off her port, 
we did not succeed, and bought some useful experi- 
ence, always to distrust Yankee politeness. 

As water began to run short, after an ineffectual 
attempt to find some at the dry Fortugas, we stood 
for the Spanish main, and anchored in Honda Bay. 
The casique, or chief Indian of the place, honored 
us with a visit, and brought his daughter, attended 
with some state. She had a perfect figure, eyes like 
diamonds, long black tresses, white teeth, and would 
have passed for a handsome brunette, had she been 
accustomed to soap, water, and brushes ; but these, I 
believe, had not been introduced into his Majesty's 
dominions, for he termed himself king, and brother of 
George of England, to whose health he so often 
drank out of the neck of a bottle of rum, as to get 
gloriously intoxicated. He was the strongest man I 
ever saw, to judge from his muscles and breadth of 
shoulders, which exceeded all the men I had seen ; 
and to give us an opinion of his power, he discharged 
an arrow into the shoulders of one of his attendants 
when on shore, who ran off into the woods with 



100 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

great yelling. But in spite of the savage state in 
which she had been reared, the princess had her 
maiden modesty and the softness of her gentle sex 
about her ; nor did she take any of the intoxicating 
draughts which made her father so furious, but did 
all in her power to check his mad career. Even in 
that state the feelings that elevate the human crea- 
tion above the brute, is most plainly developed in 
woman ; who, 

" In our hours of ease, 
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please ; 
When pain and anguish wring- the brow, 
A ministering angel thou." 

Finding water difficult to obtain, we up anchor 
and stood along the Spanish main in search of a bay 
under the heights of Santa Martha, in which a frigate 
of ours had procured water, after a desperate fight 
with outrang outangs, or man monkeys ; at least so 
the captain of the frigate reported at Jamaica ; and 
early one fine morning we made the said heights ; 
the tops of the mountains eternally clad in snow, 
looked Uke white clouds far as the sight could reach, 
and deceived us so much in distance, that the gig, 
with Jack Whitewood, was sent to sound the bay, 
thinking it about two leagues ofi", when they proved 
it to be six or seven. Anchored close in with the 
beach at the mouth of a small river, into which we 
conveyed all our empty casks, and most of the crew 
of the brig were employed in watering. Having the 
command of the party, I posted sentinels close on 
each bank of the rivulet, for the underwood was too 
thick to allow us to penetrate the immense forests ; 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 101 

but the greatest enemy I found was the sand-fly, 
which drew blood every bite, and caused great irrita- 
tion and pain. On mustering at quarters in the even- 
ing, I found eight men missing, who had been of the 
watering party, of whom we never heard afterwards. 
Guns were fired at intervals in the night, and a false 
alarm of gun-boats broke in upon our rest. My young 
captain informed me that he had a presentiment, that 
he should be killed this cruise, and in that case he 
had so arranged that I should be made a commander 
into the sloop ,• but he was a false prophet, and no 
such luck ever fell to my lot. At daylight took a 
drum and party on shore to search for our lost com- 
rades ; but a Spanish schooner led us in chase off the 
coast, and it took three weeks to beat back again ; 
but this being, like most cruises, dry and uninterest- 
ing, except to those concerned, I will bring his Ma- 
jesty's sloop to an anchor at Port Royal, without hav- 
ing made our fortunes, or indeed bettered them in the 
smallest degree. My youthful commander was thank- 
ed in public orders for his skill and bravery in the 
gun-boat attack, made a post-captain, and I was sent 
home second lieutenant of the convoy ship, to be paid 
off on my arrival, and to seek out the heart-broken 
Susette. 

THE SINKING SHIP. 

At the beginning of November, in the year 1807, 
his Majesty's line-of-battle-ship * * ^ * was detached 
from the squadron in Basque Roads, commanded by 
Sir Harry Burrard Neale, for the purpose of procuring 
water at the Glennan Rocks, a very strange cluster 
9* 



102 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

of both high and sunken ones lying off L'Orient. On 
one of the highest stands a fort well protected from 
British assault by its intricate and rocky situation. 
The November sun, on the sabbath morning, on which 
his Majesty's ship was running most carelessly off the 
wind with the top-gallant-sails and foresail set, almost 
rivalled a splendid June's ; and as the noble warlike fab- 
ric moved gracefully over the waters, amid this danger- 
ous cluster of rocks, at the rate of five miles an hour, 
every heart seemed elated and every eye beamed with 
pleasure, for indeed the day was most joyous, and, for 
the time of year, uncommon. In a moment, and 
without warning, I, with the rest on the quarter-deck, 
was prostrated, and heard the solid oak rent and torn 
by the harder rock, on which she ran with her bows 
high in air, while her stern in proportion was depress- 
ed — it must have been pointed like a steeple, for this 
vast body sallied over, and shipped an immense quan- 
tity of water through the lower-deck ports. The 
shout of surprise and horror from six hundred men, 
with the universal cry of " Lower down the ports," 
was astounding. '' Throw all a-back," called the cap- 
tain, ''and signalize Sir George Collier that he is 
standing into danger." 

" He has anchored, sir, with the same signal to us. 
flying at his mast-head." 

Our captain looked much agitated, and I thought 
his commission not worth a straw ; for we had come 
into this dangerous predicament without a pilot, 
or any precaution by chart or look-out ; and God 
knows, our situation could not be worse ; sticking on 
a rock that had already sent alongside forty feet of 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 103 

our keel, in the bottom of the Bay of Biscay, and in 
sight of an enemy's squadron in L'Orient, who now, 
by bending sails, evinced a disposition to finish us. 
The rush of water into the ship was plainly heard 
from the lower deck, as I, by the order of the cap- 
tain, transported the foremost guns aft, the tide being 
then flowing. " I have sent for you," said my cap- 
tain, with solemnity, to give you the same chance as 
others. The ship will float off" into deep water im- 
mediately ; but how long she may remain buoyant on 
that water God only knows ; from the carpenter's re- 
port I dread the worst. Cheer them up at the pumps." 

Now she rose, and all sail was made, standing out 
on the reverse course that we had entered. 

" Telegraph Sir George Collier to keep his frigate 
as near us as possible, as we are in a state of great dis- 
tress, and making more water than I choose shall be 
known." And both ships cleared the Glennan rocks, 
and bore up for Plymouth with a favorable light 
breeze, all the pumps going. At six p. m. the men 
were placed in three watches, and one watch ordered 
to get their suppers and two hours' sleep, in the best 
way they could, by planking it on the wet deck. At 
nine, the captain gave an order that the ofllcers of the 
middle watch should turn in, and down I went, from 
a very dark night and a murky sky — the water in 
the vessel rather on the increase — and in two min- 
utes was asleep in my cot, having used that short 
time to address the sinner and publican's prayer to 
heaven, and God knows I felt every word I uttered. 
It was one of those dreaming sleeps where the mind, 
from the midst of danger, turns to the happy past. 



104 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" I dreamt of my home, of my dear native bowers, 
And pleasures that waited on life's merry morn, 
While Memory stood sideways half covered with flowers, 
And restored every rose, but secreted each thorn." 

From the soothing and delightful visions I was 
roused by the tenor voice of a young midshipman, 
who woke me from this blissful state, by telling me 
that the captain wanted every person on deck. 
" What of the leak and the night ? " asked I, putting 
on my coat. 

" Both bad enough," replied he, in a tremulous 
voice. '' The one gaining slowly on the pumps, and 
the other losing its brightness, for no stars can be 
seen, nor the frigate's lights." 

<« Why do we not fire a gun frequently ? " 

'' The carpenter thinks it would have a fatal effect 
on the shattered frame of the barky." 

'* May God keep off the wind," said the youngster, 
*' for it requires very little to lay us in Davy Jones's 
locker," and with this consolatory information I reach- 
ed the quarter-deck, on which the sail-maker's crew 
were thrumming a lower studding-sail, by the '' light of 
lanterns dimly burning ; " all the carpenters were re- 
pairing the launch by the same kind of light, and 
getting the boats ready, that could only bear one-third 
of the crew from destruction ; a blue light on each 
quarter was throwing its ghastly glare on the sur- 
rounding objects, while the noble ship seemed labor- 
ing with unusual weight, and much depressed by the 
head ; her maintop-sail lay to the mast, and the leak 
increased as she was pressed through the water. The 
clank of the chain-pumps, with the very faint cheers 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 105 

from those that worked them, was anything but ex- 
hilarating, and the great anxiety evinced for the sight 
of, and answering the blue lights from Sir George 
Collier, proved that our dangerous situation was not 
underrated. These sights, in the Bay of Biscay, on a 
misty November night, struck a damp chill to my 
heart, and effectually banished the beautiful visions 
engendered by my broken slumbers. 

'' Did you particularly want me, sir," addressing my 
captain, who looked pale and agitated. 

'' Cheer the men at the pumps, by splicing the 
main-brace ; and harkee, water it, for fear of drunk- 
enness. Send the first lieutenant and master to as- 
sist me in getting the thrummed sail under her bot- 
tom ; under heaven, that and Sir George Collier are 
our only dependence. What think you of the night ? " 

" A Scotch mist," replied I, ^' but no wind of con- 
sequence under twelve hours, and then, I trust, fair 
for Plymouth." 

'' May God in his infinite mercy so order it," said 
the captain, in a very pious tone, for in the course of 
my long experience, I have always found even the 
most reprobate turn to that Power that has controlled 
the winds and the waves, and put their trust alone in 
unbounded mercy. 

At the chain-pumps I found the men disheartened 
and fatigued, and the words " beach her " (meaning 
thereby to run her ashore) escaped them, as the 
winches slowly revolved under their diminished 
power. 

"It is an iron-bound coast," said I, ''and in God's 
mercy, and our own exertions, we must trust. Spell, 



106 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

oh ! " and a fresh gang took their turn at the winch- 
es. A blue light and a gun from the frigate gave us 
new life at the pumps, and a midshipman came down 
with the joyful intelligence, that Sir George Collier 
was close up to us, and the fothered sail was under 
her in excellent style, and they were then hauling on 
the yard ropes to press it close to the leaks, which 
gradually sucked it in, and diminished the water. 
One half ''Hurrah, hurrah!" and round flew the 
winches with life and spirit. " Fill the main-topsail 
on her," said the captain, and the noble ship again 
breasted the waters in gallant style. 

A heavy weight seemed to be lifted from our 
breasts, and every eye beamed with greater anima- 
tion ; even the blue lights which signalized Sir 
George Collier, did not cast such a sepulchral glare 
on surrounding objects, and the chain-pumps revolved 
and clanked with more spirit. As Chip the carpenter 
announced that we gained on the leak, ''Hurrah, 
hurrah, to get her dry out," and the cranks went 
merrily round. It was most merciful that the wind 
continued very moderate, and even the usual Biscay 
swell had subsided in our favor. The slightest sea in 
our shattered state would have proved fatal, and anxious 
glances at the sky and barometer were very frequent. 
In fifty-two hours from the time of floating ofl" the 
Pigeon Rock off" L'Orient, we anchored in Cawsand 
Bay, with the signal of distress, and in want of im- 
mediate assistance, flying at our mast-head. This 
was answered by draughts of men from the ships of 
the squadron, who kept us afloat till taken into Grav- 
ing Dock, where we entered with guns, powder, and 



I 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 107 

Stores. It was considered a miracle that a ship could 
float so rent and torn. Poor Sir George Collier, our 
stay in distress, I have dined in his company frequent- 
ly, and a pleasanter companion could not be ; and to 
think that a land historian of the sea should make him 
a suicide ! It is lamentable, and '' passing strange." 
May the Power that strung his nervous system on so 
fine and fragile a make, look with a merciful eye on 
his rash and dreadful end. Pardon him, Oh God ! 



108 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



THE NIGHT ATTACK. 

The boatswain's shrill pipe, re-echoed by his 
mates, called attention, and "Boarders away!" re- 
sounded through the decks of H. M. S. ***. It 
wanted an hour of midnight, and was intensely dark, 
when I ordered the boats to follow my motions with- 
out noise, and proceeded in search of a cutter, an- 
chored between Rochelle and Rochefort, round which 
the boats of that division of the channel-fleet, com- 
manded by Sir Harry Burrard Neale, were ordered to 
rendezvous, for the purpose of cutting out a convoy, 
that had left Rochelle, and been chased into a bay 
near that place some days previously. Its strongly 
guarded state forbade any prospect of success in day- 
light, as a very high promontory, called Point Du 
Che, furnished with long thirty-two pounders, afford- 
ed effectual resistance, even to the approach of an 
adverse squadron. A regiment of infantry were 
moved from Rochelle, and encamped round the very 
pretty bay, their white tents glittering on the plain, 
and giving more effect to its beautiful scenery. The 
admiral and officers, that had volunteered on this des- 
perate undertaking, had closely reconnoitered the place 
this day, and each officer had the plan of attack fully 
explained to him by Sir Harry, with the particular 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 109 

duty expected from him. The marine artillery were 
selected, and volunteers from that admirable corps, 
headed by Lieutenant Liddle, composed the forlorn 
hope. It was on reconnoitering we found that a reg- 
iment of infantry had arrived from Rochelle on the 
bay, and had taken an excellent position, both for de- 
fending the shipping and the promontory of Point du 
Che. The plan of attack was skilfully arranged by 
Sir Harry. Darkness was the first requisite, and it 
was most essential that a landing should be effected, 
or the boats got so much under the promontory that 
the heavy metal, with which it was bristled, could not 
be depressed to bear on the approaching force. One 
hundred marines, commanded by their captain from 
the Caledonian, were to secure the retreat of the 
storming-party, headed by Lieutenant Liddle ; and for 
that purpose were to take up a position between the 
boats and French regiment, whose encampment so 
much enlivened the plain. The boats were to move 
in six divisions from the cutter, their oars muffled, 
and each division having a different duty assigned 
them. Some were to board and cut out the shipping ; 
others conveyed the storming and covering party ; 
mine, in a seventy-four's launch, was to flank the 
marines, and, with an eighteen pounder mounted in 
her bow, to check the advance of the French infan- 
try. Now, fair and gentle reader, imagine the cutter, 
(and she was found with great difficulty, not daring 
to show a light,) imagine the cutter's deck thronged 
with the officers commanding the different boats, re- 
ceiving the final orders of the youthful flag-lieuten- 
10 



no 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



ant representative of the rear-admiral, each as he 
made his parting bow to the gallant youngster, for so 
he was compared to the senior-officers under him, 
each drew tighter the belt of his sword, and placed his 
hand on the butt of his pistols. The quick ear might 
have detected the half-drawn sigh, and the rapid 
glance, had there been light, the slight suffusion of 
the eye, as some replaced the locket they had most 
affectionately pressed to their lips, arguing, from the 
dangerous nature of their service, a possibility of no 
other opportunity of bidding farewell to the much- 
prized tokens of love or friendship. At this moment 
some awkward fellow accidentally discharged his 
pistol, and the stifled execration of displeasure burst 
from numerous lips. All eyes turned eagerly to the 
dangerous battery of Point du Che, and then swept 
the bay, where the regiment had encamped, but 
nothing denoted alarm. The sentinel still paced his 
lonely round, and a few minutes' observation con- 
vinced us they had not observed our unguarded 
conduct. 

"Gentlemen, to your boats," said our youthful 
commander, and they formed in the divisions pre- 
viously planned. As we slowly approached the in- 
tended scene of disembarkation, for the strictest 
orders were given for silence, and the muffled oars 
just touched the unruffled water, we plainly perceived 
the sentinel, as he stood on the topmost pinnacle of 
the high bluff cliff. His figure, as viewed by us so 
far beneath, appeared unnaturally large, and swelled 
out into gigantic proportions between earth and sky. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. Ill 

Sometimes he would slowly pace the edge, then 
would he rest on his musket, casting a wary eye on 
the dark waters below. Every man held his breath, 
for this was the trying time. Death or victory hung 
on the vigilance of that man, and each eye strained 
to watch his motions. "Hush!" was faintly heard 
along the divisions, and I thought I could distinguish 
even the beating of the heart, as the sentinel was ob- 
served to stop and apparently stretch himself forward 
from the cliff. A discharge of grape and canister at 
this moment, from their heavy guns, would have 
swept us, like a flash of lightning, from the face of 
the ocean. Thank God ! he drew back, and, seem- 
ingly satisfied with his gaze, resumed his slow pace. 
Each person drew his breath more freely ; at least I 
can answer for myself, who felt as if a ton weight 
had suddenly been lifted from my breast. Every 
yard had now life or death depending on it. Yet we 
could not exert more speed without drawing on us 
the attention of our wary and vigilant foe. With us 
all was profound stillness and inactivity, far different 
from the bustle and noise of action ; and I am confi- 
dent many a good resolution was formed, and many 
a silent aspiration ascended to the throne of heaven 
for mercy. During the forty-two years I have been in 
the service, never did I feel my mind called upon for 
more fortitude than on this eventful ten minutes. 
Again the sentinel stood still, and stretched himself 
over the cliff, gazing on the deep, deep sea, like a 
man alarmed, for the dip of our oars had reached his 
quick ears. " dui vive ? " from his hoarse, manly 



112 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



voice rang in our ears like thunder. Again we heard 
the challenge, quickly followed by the report of his 
musket. Now hissed the rockets as they ascended 
the sky, and the blue lights innumerable threw a 
ghastly glare on the frowning promontory and bay 
below. The grape and canister splashed and tore 
the waters into foam just outside of us, and the Brit- 
ish cheer rung high and merrily, as our youthful 
commander shouted, " Give way for your lives, men, 
and remember your orders." 

The divisions of boats flew through the placid 
waters, as the rowers bent both back and oar to their 
work ; and as they neared the shore, diverged to their 
different duties. The forlorn hope, under the gallant 
Liddie, jumped from their boats, formed, and rushed 
up the steep to the attack of the battery with incred- 
ible speed. I drew off to the right of the marine 
corps, and directly in front of the French regiment, 
whose bugles at intervals could be heard above the 
roar of the heavy artillery and field-pieces, that thick- 
ly hned the beach, and now opened in earnest on the 
boats. 

A sudden nervous start and — "I was afraid my 
right arm was off," said the midshipman, seated near 
me ; " but it is only confoundedly bruised by a shot 
striking tlie gunnel." 

" It is well you preserved it, for I want its assist- 
ance in training the carronade. So, oars, lay in the 
six foremost ones, bowse forward the gun, and load it 
with double canister. Now, coxswain, keep the bow 
of the boat directed towards the centre of that scat- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 113 

tered fire you see advancing ; " for the regiment had 
thrown out their sharp-shooter's to feel their way, 
and give some knowledge of the attacking force. Of 
these gentlemen I took no notice, confident that the 
main body were advancing in close column, and re- 
serving my welcome for them alone. 

By this time Lieutenant Liddle's storming party 
had gained the crown of the promontory, and were 
halted to re-form and gain breath, but finding the 
enemy endeavoring to turn one of their heavy guns 
upon them, the gallant Liddle gave the word to 
charge bayonet, and advance at double quick time ; 
sparks flew as they crossed each other, and many a 
gallant breast was transfixed by that truly British 
implement. At this moment their gallant leader re- 
ceived a ball in his sword arm, which shattered the 
bone, so as to require amputation, and the wounded 
hero was supported to the boats with the wreath of 
victory on his brow. The tramp of masses of infan- 
try was plainly heard in the launch, and the sharp- 
shooters retired on their main body. " Depress the 
gun, and stand clear of its recoil." Nearer, and 
still nearer came the heavy tread. I heard the com- 
mand to our marines, to make ready and close their 
files. " Fire ! " and thirty-six pounds of small balls 
imperatively commanded a halt, which the French- 
men acknowledged by prompt obedience. The flames 
from the grounded shipping, that had been set on fire, 
now gave a glimpse of the retreating infantry, and 
our gun, by its playing, accelerated their motion. 
The commander of our party now ordered the bugle 
10* 



114 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

to sound a retreat, and the marines rushed into the 
boats in double quick movement. Never was a 
night attack better planned, or more ably executed. 
Our youthful commanding officer, now Captain 
Hamilton, then received his promotion, and we the 
thanks of Sir Harry Burrard Neale. 






NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 115 



THE MAD CAPTAIN. 

The inspiring tune of the " Roast Beef of Old 
England" had just ceased its echoes through the 
decks of his Majesty's sloop * * * *j when her cap- 
tain, better known by the name of Mad Mac, than 
the more Christian one given by his godfathers and 
godmothers, accosting me as officer of the watch, 
though I was first lieutenant, — '^ Keep her close in 
shore, S2>." And he stalked with all the stateliness 
of a new-made commander down the companion 
ladder. How the noble chief had attained the above 
cognomen I have no personal knowledge, but report 
whispered something of outrageous passion nearly al- 
lied to insanity, and of the reef-point of a topsail shot 
from under the hand of the man who was tying it, 
by his pistol-ball. Be that as it may, from long 
experience I am convinced of the truth of the obser- 
vation of a celebrated counsellor, whose out-of-the- 
way simile having excited the stare of the Court, 
pursued his address with, — ''My lord, in fact, all 
men are mad at times, and this has been my mad 
moment." 

Captain Mac's madness assumed the offensive form 
of pride and austerity, which nothing could soften 
but the magic name of a noble lady, — some far-off 



116 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

cousin, a hundred degrees removed. This magical 
word sometimes procured me an invite and a share 
of a bottle of claret from the great bashaw. 

'^ Captain Mac," addressing my superior respectful- 
ly, ''I think it my duty to mention that I feel it im- 
possible, being neiv to the climate, to keep myself 
awake at watch and watch, and liable to all calls, as 
first lieutenant, both by day and night ; and as Mr. 
Bennett has passed for lieutenant, we, that is, the 
second lieutenant and myself, hope that you will per- 
mit either him or the master to take the third watch." 

" Q.uarter-master," said the captain, "desire my 
clerk to bring me the Articles of War. Now, sir, 
you will be pleased to attend to this. ' If any person 
in the fleet shall sleep on his watch, he shall be pun- 
ished with death.' So much for the first part of 
your request. For the latter, the master and Mr. 
Bennett are not commissioned oflicers, and I am in- 
structed by the Admiralty to intrust his Majesty's 
sloop with them alone." 

He issued a written order that no boat should leave 
the ship without his special commands, or sail be 
shortened, without his directions. These orders we 
soon contrived to get rescinded in the following man- 
ner : — being all ready, we allowed the squall to press 
the ship on her beam-ends, and then loudly called 
down into the cabin, that the masts would go or the 
brig upset, unless instantly relieved. This would 
bring a screaming command from the sleeping com- 
mander, to let fly everything, and he, for his own 
comfort, saw the necessity of leaving the shortening 
of sail to the discretion of the officer of the watch. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. Il7 

The sloop anchored off Aruba to water. This 
small island is the resort of smugglers^ run-away 
slaves, and all kinds of run-aways, from the Spanish 
main. The captain, after landing, let his gig return, 
without note or message^ towards sunset. The sig- 
nal-man reported the captain on the beach, waving 
his handkerchief. This conveyed an intimation, but 
could not set aside the written order respecting the 
boats, which we were told to obey on our peril. 

" Are you sure, coxswain, that the captain sent no 
order about his gig ? " 

"None whatever, sir, but shove off, and go on 
board." 

"Very well, Mr. Pipes; turn the hands up and 
hoist in the boats." 

" Arn't I to go for the captain before dark, sir?" 
said the coxswain. 

"Certainly not, for I have a written order that 
prevents me from sending a boat." 

The coxswain touched his hat, and with a know- 
ing smile, walked off. 

When darkness ensued, a fire blazed on the beach, 
but the second lieutenant and myself were steady- 
going officers, and could not act on a surmise, that the 
captain might want his boat, and send one in defiance 
of his written order, — O no ; we knew the service 
better. So leaving orders with the officer of the 
watch, to hoist out the boats at daylight, and send 
them for water, agreeable to his written orders be- 
fore leaving, Dick Grant (the second luff) and myself 
joined our messmates at supper, and a merry supper 
it was, for one or the other of the mess popped their 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



heads up the companion, to see how well the cap- 
tahi managed his fire, and their reports of its droop- 
ing or burning brightly were received with uncon- 
trolled bursts of laughter, for his tyranny and oppres- 
sion had turned all our better feelings into intense 
hatred. Let the censorious figure to themselves hell 
upon earth, and they will form but a faint idea of the 
misery of a sloop commanded by a morose^ tyranni- 
cal disposition ; then imagine the actors overgrown 
boys, and they will be near the truth. 

At six, A. M. the officers were drawn up on the 
quarter-deck to receive the captain, who did not ap- 
pear with his usual neatness of attire, and looked pale 
with rage. The boatswain's shrill pipe manned the 
side, and the officers uncovered as Captain Mac 
stepped on the deck of his Majesty's sloop. — "I ask 
you, sir, as first lieutenant, in the presence of your 
brother officers, if you were not acquainted with my 
being on the beach, and waving for my boat yester- 
day, about sunset ? " 

" It was not only reported to me, but I saw you 
myself" 

" Then what could induce you to keep me all night 
among a set of villains, that I am astonished did not 
cut my throat for my epaulettes ? " 

" This order, Captain Mac, and the dread we all 
entertain of being brought to a court-martial for diso- 
bedience.'^ 

He snatched the paper I held to him, and tore it 
to atoms. 

" If I die of the fever I am now suffering under, 
you are my murderer, and I fear, gentlemen, you are 
all aiding and assisting." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 119 

And down he went to his cot. 

The doctor in a short time relieved our anxiety by 
information, that his illness proceeded from suppressed 
passion more than the fever of the climate. He re- 
covered, but with no improvement in disposition. 

This has been a long digression ; but now to re- 
turn to my tale. We were running off the v/ind, 
along the island of Curacoa, pretty close in-shore. 
"Captain Mac," called I, down the companion, " the 
course we are now steering will take the brig within 
point blank of Dyke Fort." 

" Keep your course, sir ; and if the blackguards 
dare to fire on us, cast loose one of the carronades, 
and blow them into " — / should blush to write where. 

*' Gunners, clear away the foremost carronade ; give 
it elevation, and point ir, for the fort now opening the 
point." 

At this moment a twelve-pounder from the battery 
whistled very melodiously over us. 

'' Their shot carry outside of us, sir." 

This communication was unnecessary, for the cap- 
tain, with his mouth full, appeared on deck, and, with 
much spluttering, ordered the main topsail to be 
thrown aback, and the people to quarters ; and we 
turned to with a good will, and answered their fire in 
fine style, throwing a number of well-directed shot 
into the fort. 

Our commander, who prided himself on his gun- 
nery, now pointed one of the carronades, and fired, 
without taking out the monkey-tail. 

The recoil of the gun threw it with furious vio- 
lence between his legs, and his escape was miracu- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES 



lous. '' A miss is as good as a mile," said the cap- 
tain ; " but what signal is flying on board the commo- 
dore ?" 

" Our signal to come within hail." 

'' Fill the main-topsail, — haul aboard the fore-tack." 

And we passed under the stern of La Franchise. 

" I am delighted sir," said Captain Murray, " with 
the way in which, you scaled your guns ; really it 
was very pretty firing ; but I called you off for fear 
an unlucky shot should cripple a lower mast or yard, 
as I cannot afford to lose a sloop so eflicient from the 
squadron." 

Here the polished manners of the commodore got 
the better of his love of truth ; for the discipline of 
the sloop was, as may be imagined, very so-so, and 
capable of improvement. 

'' Sir," said my good-natured chief, " this brig is in 
very bad order." 

" She is. sir," replied I, pulling off my hat. 

*' Then the fault must be yours or mine." 

" Yours, sir, I think," again bowing. 

*' How will you make that appear, sir? " 

" In this way, sir ; by every effort you have en- 
deavored to lower me in the estimation of the crew, 
and this conduct to the second officer is enough to 
disorganize a ship." 

" Give me an instance, sir." 

*' Yesterday, Captain Mac, you ordered me as first 
lieutenant of the sloop, to lower down the jolly boat, 
and pick up an empty cask ; when I desired a mid- 
shipman to perform that duty, you countermanded it, 
and obliged me to do it myself." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 121 

" O ! you are a bit of a lawyer I see, sir, and I will 
avail myself of the first opportunity of breaking you." 

" Sir, I feel particularly obliged for your kind in- 
tentions, and shall guard against them to the best of 
my power ; " and with a low bow I quitted my ami- 
able commander. 

The commodore made arrangements for storming 
the Dyke Fort on the night of the day that we had 
cannonaded it. A hundred volunteers were to land 
at ten o'clock at night, under the command of Mr. 
Fleming, the first lieutenant of La Franchise. I was 
honored with the command of our quota from the 
brig, namely, twenty picked seamen, armed with cut- 
lasses, pistols, and pikes. Our party drew up on the 
beach on a very dark night, neither moon nor stars 
visible. The storming party consisted of the same 
number of seamen from the four ships, and twenty 
marines from La Franchise, under one of their own 
lieutenants ; the whole commanded by as gallant a 
man as ever drew a sword, Fleming, first of the 
commodore's frigate. My orders were to keep the 
party compact, by bringing up the rear. A Dutch 
guide moved with the forlorn hope in advance, com- 
posed of a Serjeant and six marines, and were follow- 
ed at twelve paces by the remainder of the jollies 
with bayonets fixed. " To the right face," — and we 
moved off the beach, striking into swampy ground 
at a brisk pace. In a short time we found ourselves 
bewildered among high canes. A halt was called, 
and the Dutch guide ordered to the commanding of- 
ficer. I saw some confusion in the van of our small 
party, and heard along the line, '' Officers to the 
11 



15s5f NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

front." On reaching Fleming, I found the Dutch 
guide had escaped, by an imposition practised on 
the advance, that he wished to communicate with 
the commanding oliicer. From the height of the 
canes, and the darkness of the night, he easily con- 
trived to elude the vigilance of those he had devoted 
to destruction. Great consternation prevailed among 
the staff, which was not lessened by the sound of an 
alarm gun from the fort. 

" That sound directs us where we should go, and 
the quicker the better. Officers, to your posts, and 
keep your men together. Double quick time, and 
follow me." 

Thus spoke our gallant commander — and the party 
pushed rapidly on until stopped by a heavy volley, 
but ill directed, on our marine advance, who fell back 
on the main body. "Close with the front," was 
vociferated along our line. I thought I perceived 
a greater inclination for the opposite way ; and by 
threats, with the point of the sword, had just closed 
with the front, when with a loud shout the Dutch 
party, who had fired on the advance, broke from their 
ambnsh, and crossed bayonets with our marine force. 
Lieutenant Fleming, who was at their head, received 
a bayonet through his jacket, which was flying open. 
The thrust, which was intended for his heart, was 
made with such force, that the Dutchman fell from 
not meeting the expected resistance of his body ; and 
as he lay prostrate and bare-headed, our gallant com- 
mander's sabre flashed even in the darkness of night, 
and was in the act of descending on his head, when 
the Dutchman rose upon his knees, and with upraised 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 123 

hands implored the mercy he ill deserved from his 
gallant opponent. The truly brave are always the 
most merciful ; and Lieutenant Fleming stayed the 
uphfted weapon, and with self-possession that did him 
honor, collared the trembling wretch ; and under 
fear of instant death, compelled him to lead us to the 
Dyke Fort, into which we scrambled in the best way 
we could. As my muscular power was not sufficient 
to get over the wall, with my cutlass guarding my 
head, I, being then of slender make, contrived to 
crawl through one of the embrasures, and found the 
fort in possession of the gallant Fleming, who, if 
alive, I believe still remains a lieutenant up to this 
day ; his noble captain dying shortly afterwards, his 
interest died with him ! 

When with difficulty I had crawled through the 
embrasure, all the time expecting my quietus in the 
shape of a ball, bayonet, or pike, as an intolerable 
noise prevailed, interspersed with sundry sharp cracks 
from pistol and gun, with pleasure I found myself 
again in an erect position, and taking a survey of the 
scene before me. In the centre of the fort, drawn up 
with military precision, stood the jollies, headed by 
their officer, conversing with Lieutenant Fleming, 
who was directing the seamen to prepare the guns — 
being seven twelve pounders — to receive the flying 
camp of the Dutch commandant, whose fierce attack 
was momentarily expected. 

" I am glad to see you, youngster," said my bold 
commander ; " I feared you were among the missing 
or dead." 

Some lanterns were making darkness visible, and 



124 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

in my hurry to reach him, I fell over a Dutchman in 
the agonies of death : he had been shot in the groin, 
and in a short time expired. 

*'I congratulate you on your easy conquest," said I. 

" Easy enough of all conscience. Most of the fools 
went out to lay in ambush ; had they remained in the 
fort, we should have found tough work of it ; but now 
we must prepare to receive the gallant Dutchman's 
flying camp. Take a lantern, and this Dutch pris- 
oner will show you the magazine. See if they have 
cartridges filled ; if not, prepare ten rounds for each 
gun ; and be careful you do not blow us into the air, 
by firing the magazine. And, mister," to the marine 
ofiicer, " throw out a line of picquets on the land side, 
the foremost one well advanced, with orders, if alarm- 
ed, to fire, and fall back on the fort. 

Bearing a filthy lantern, whose dirty horn gave a 
dim light, I followed my guide down a flight of steps 
to the door of the magazine, which having forced 
open, I found a great quantity of powder, and many 
rounds of cartridges already filled, and forthwith pro- 
ceeded to make my report. 

" Very well — we will hold this fort against any 
force they can send till daylight, when, after blowing 
it up, we will efl'ect our retreat, as we best can, to the 
boats ; you, or the marine-officer, visit the out-posts 
every fifteen minutes, as the utmost vigilance is ne- 
cessary. The sign and countersign are Church and 
Chichester, which no foreigner can well pronounce." 

Agreeably to orders, I scrambled over the wall, and 
with a light and hasty step, a pistol in each hand and a 
wary eye, I approached the difl'erent sentinels, who ful- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



125 



ly conscious of the necessity of vigilance, at some dis- 
tance ciiallenged witli " wlio goes tliere ?- rounds, - 
advance rounds, and give tire countersign ; at the 
same time making their muskets ring as they brought 
their bayonets to the charge position, and the clink of 
the cock fell sharp upon the ear. " Chichester and all s 
well " ended our interview, until I came upon the ad- 
vanced one. He stood like a man thoroughly alarmed, 
and said he had heard female moans. " Hist ! " said the 
soldier, and the sobs and heart-searching groans, m 
the soft voice of the gentler sex, broke the silence of 
the stilly night. Led by these mournful sounds, 1 
passed the sentinel, and in some brushwood I found 
a poor attenuated female, apparently of the half-cast, 
lying on the damp earth, with a dead infant in her 
arms. I conjectured that she had been shot through 
the body in making her escape from the fort, for her 
language to me was unintelligible, though her groans 
and shrieks spoke the universal one of suffering. 1 
supported her head, and applied my canteen to her 
lips; the beverage which she eagerly swallowed 
seemed to revive her, and with the maternal affection 
so strongly implanted in woman's breast, whether 
black or white, she held her infant to me, seemmgly 
unconscious of its death. I tried to raise her, with 
the idea of supporting her to the fort, but her exces- 
sive agony when moved obliged me to replace her, 
and I sat down, making my knees a pillow for her 
head. While cogitating on the best mode of af- 
fording relief to the poor forlorn one, for I dared 
not risk the safety of the whole party by taking the 
advanced sentinel to my assistance, I heard his sharp 
11* 



t!^ NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

challenge uttered in tones of alarm, and his still 
sharper shot, with his hasty retreat on the fort. 
Being well aware that no quarter would be given by 
the Dutch commandant, with that instinct true to 
nature, though it went to my heart to leave the 
wretched woman, I again placed my canteen to her 
lips, and fled, and that with such good speed, that I 
arrived with the outposts, who came flocking into the 
fort according to their orders. The man who caused 
the alarm averred that he heard the measured tread of 
infantry, and the prancing of horses ; but T think the 
beating of his own heart must have deceived him. 
We remained on the watch, and made every disposi- 
tion for a desperate defence ; and, as day dawned, laid 
a train to the magazine, and evacuated the fort, the 
marine force covering our retreat. 

" A volunteer to fire the train ! " cried the com- 
manding ofiicer, and several stepped forward. " Here 
we must regulate by length of legs, and a capacity 
to use them. John Wilson," calling to one of the 
volunteers, "I have seen you active in running up 
the rigging — I select you to fire the train when you 
hear the report of my pistol ; and remember, you run 

for your life. Mr. ," addressing me, "lead the 

party to the boats, which I now see approaching the 
beach. Q,uicken your pace, as I am going to fire the 
train in five minutes." 

I heard the signal, and in an instant there arose a 
volume of flame, overhung by a dense and heavy 
cloud, and for miles the Island shook, as if from an 
earthquake, while the fort, with all it contained, was 
scattered over the face of the country. Our gallant 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 127 

lieutenant, with his long-legged coadjutor, joined us 
in perfect safety, and we entered our boats without 
crossing sabres with our flying enemies. Glad to 
find myself safe on board the brig, unpleasant as she 
was, I had scarcely refreshed myself with clean 
linen, when a letter was put into my hands, which 
caused great astonishment, and in a great measure 
displeasure. A youthful relative, in the first year of 
his apprenticeship, had quitted the plodding desk, and 
without any permission but his own, entered in some 
West Indiaman from Liverpool, had got impressed by 
La Franchise, and was now serving in her as a mizen- 
topman. He, thinking I still remained in the chan- 
nel-fleet, where he had last heard from me, was 
amazed at recognising my voice while forming the 
storming-party on the beach on the preceding night. 

" And so, my dear * * * ^ ," he wrote, "■ I hope, 
from your situation and knowledge of the commo- 
dore, who is a perfect gentleman, you will induce 
him to take me on his quarter-deck." This Captain 
Murray did in the kindest and most gracious manner, 
censuring the youngster for not having made himself 
known to him before. I could have got him rated 
midshipman on board the sloop I was first lieutenant 
of, but I prized his happiness too sincerely to place it 
under the control of Captain Mac. 

St. Pierre, the author of the most beautiful of all 
pretty stories, " Paul and Virginia," very prettily re- 
marks in his Studies of Nature, ''that where the 
great Creator places dangers, he likewise gives the 
means of avoiding them by such signs as must strike 
the most careless observer ; for instance, the sea 



128 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

breaking on rocks or shoals creates a white foam, and 
the darker the night, the more plainly is it seen. 
The voracious shark swims with a fin from his back, 
considerably above the water, and is obliged to turn 
upon that back to seize his prey. And from the 
same beneficent principle and beautiful order observa- 
ble throughout the creation, he makes the human 
countenance an index of the mind." 

The hard lines of cruelty and cunning were so 
legibly impressed on Captain Mac's countenance as to 
become strongly repulsive, and I am convinced no 
human being ever felt, or could feel, affection for 
him ; there was an affectation of suavity, and a smile 
playing round an ill-formed mouth, but it was hollow 
and deceptive, and truly verified the Scripture, ''that 
the heart of man is deceitful above all things." His 
first appearance created in me a repelling sensation of 
disgust and dislike, which I found on nearer acquain- 
tance daily augmented. How inexplicable is the 
attraction or repulsion of the human countenance, 
denoting in the gentle sex those amiable and endear- 
ing virtues which, old as I am, have inclined me to 
bow down and worship them as a superior race, nearer 
to angels than frail humanity; and to such expressive 
faces the heart fills with affection, and the hands spring 
to render service. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 129 



BLOCKADE OF THE ISLAND OF CURACOA. 

Early in the present century the Hon. John Mur- 
ray was entrusted, by the vice-admiral commanding 
in chief on the Jamaica station, with his Majesty's 
frigate La Fortune and two eighteen-gun sloops, in 
addition to his own frigate La Franchise, for the pur- 
pose of capturing the island of Curacoa, then a Dutch 
settlement, lying off the Spanish Main, and which 
the commodore pledged himself to subject to the 
British crown in a given space of time. It was my 
good or ill fortune (I have hardly made up my mind 
which) to be first lieutenant of one of these sloops. 
The proclamation of blockade was made in the Ja- 
maica Gazettes, and notice given to brother Jonathan, 
that any vessels found within a certain distance of 
the island would be subject to capture ; but this did 
not check the philanthropy of our Yankee friends, 
who could not brook the idea of people being starved 
on compulsion, and very charitably used every means 
in their power to counteract our cruelty, by sending 
them provisions at five hundred per cent, increased 
cost. Commodore Murray, finding that the strictest 
blockade did. not effect his purpose, and that the gov- 
ernor and his garrison, with true Dutch obstinacy, 
chose to live on without showing the least symptom 



i30 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. m^ 

of surrendering to his Majesty's forces, now adopted 
the novel mode of landing a destroying party, from 
fifty to one hundred men, generally commanded by 
the first lieutenant of one of the squadron, with or- 
ders to burn everything intended for human food, 
shoot down all kinds of cattle, leaving the glorious 
sun to complete the work of spoliation ; and to cross 
the island in the most rapid manner, by seizing all 
the horses in our line of march ; and part of the 
squadron moved round to reembark the destroying 
party after they had accomplished the good they had 
been sent to do. The Dutch boor of a governor 
could not see the humanity of these proceedings, and 
wilfully shut his eyes to the advantages to be gained 
in becoming part of the great British empire. He, 
with unparalleled impudence, denominated our gentle 
proceedings the acts of buccaneers, and informed our 
commodore that he would hang up on Fort Amster- 
dam, as a pirate, every Englishman caught in these 
destroying parties. 

The following night the first lieutenant of La For- 
tune with his party of lambs, being busily employed 
in this work of destruction, were surprised by the 
Dutch commodore, at the head of his flying camp, 
about one hundred men, selected from the crews 
of their frigates in the mole, and kept encamped 
in the centre of the island under this active com- 
mander, for the express purpose now effected. Our 
party, only half their number, flew to their boats, 
leaving thirteen of their rear-guard prisoners, in 
the hands of their exasperated enemy. As no 
doubt existed of Mynheer the governer fidfilling his 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 131 

humane determination of making the innocent pay 
the penalty of the guilty, I was ordered away at 
midnight, with fifty men, under the guidance of a 
Dutch renegade, named Horsica, to seize all the prin- 
cipal men I could catch, to answer with their lives 
for those of onr captured men. The first estate pointed 
out by that most exemplary traitor, Mynheer Horsica, 
was surrounded by our men, and a seizure of ten 
horses eff'ected, upon which we mounted the officers 
and worthy guide, forming a small body of cavalry. 
The master of tiie mansion, with his wife, were de- 
clared to be in the town of Amsterdam. The house was 
of the superior order ; and the mate of the Fortuna, 
who most probably was seeking plunder, with great 
glee informed me, that in a small room he had dis- 
covered three young ladies, daughters of the owner, 
endeavoring to secrete themselves. With the utmost 
speed, knowing the tender mercy of my lambs, 
(something like Colonel Kirk's,) I hastened to save 
them, and found the two younger sisters clinging to 
their elder ones, apparently about seventeen, and all 
of them in my eyes beautiful, half-dressed, and fran- 
tic with terror. I saw some rudeness had been of- 
fered by the gazing and armed ruffians around them, 
and ordered them to draw up outside the house, in 
marching order, at the same time desiring Mr. Smart, 
the aforesaid mate, to put himself at their head. To 
this he demurred, and proposed the ruin of these un- 
fortunate innocents. With some difficulty I dis- 
armed the monster, and caused him to be bound to 
the back of one of my mounted sailors. The poor 
girls, who had fallen with fear at the angry alterca- 



132 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

tion and clashing of naked sabres, now crawled to- 
wards me, and on their knees watered my hands with 
their tears, bestowing many kisses on them. It is 
one of the few good and redeeming actions of my 
life, anH to which I have often, in the hour of peril, 
turned with pleasure, that I used my best endeavors 
to soothe the terrors of these pretty innocents, and left 
them, as far as regarded us, in security and compara- 
tive happiness. 

Horsica, whose angry passions were roused by the 
escape of the master, to whom I judged him no 
friend, advised, and in some measure commanded me 
to fire the house and out-buildings; but in the frame 
of mind I was then, I would sooner have burnt my- 
self, and with considerable pleasure, his ugly car- 
case, whose visage would not have disgraced the 
devil, displaying all the bad passions supposed to orig- 
inate ia that important personage. " Close your files 
and move forward in quick time." And with Horsi- 
ca I rode to the head of our cavalry. He advised a 
rapid movement on the next house, a large farm es- 
tablishment, from which we put in requisition twenty 
more horses, with the respectable farmer and his two 
manly sons. 

Morning dawned, and displayed our grotesque cav- 
alry, for all the sailors had mounted, and were not 
contemptible horsemen. We had eight Dutch pris- 
oners, and Smart, the mutineer, to guard, with the 
dread of the Dutch commodore and his flying camp. 
Horsica said, a burgomaster, highly respected and of 
great note, lay on our route to the boats, and if we 
caught him the lives of our captured seamen were 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 133 

^safe. "Here is his mansion," pointing to a good- 
looking house not far distant, and we closed upon it 
at a hard gallop. 

" Surround the house, and let no one pass," called 
I to my mate, and with Horsica and two seamen rode 
through a very pretty garden to the outer door. To 
repeated raps from our pikes, an upper window opened, 
and the head of a female, somewhat in a disordered 
state, was thrust out. To Horsica's peremptory de- 
mand for instant admission, a scream of fright from 
the demoiselle was our reply. 

"Time presses," said Horsica, "force the door," — 
and a post was instantly torn from its situation and 
propelled with great violence, as a battering-ram, 
against it; three sturdy blows, — bolts, bars, and 
hinges gave way, and Horsica, with myself, and two 
orderlies, burst into a good-sized room, or hall, the 
bottom of which was composed of handsome Dutch 
tiles. As we had naked sabres in our hands, with 
pistols in our belts, it was very natural that the half- 
dressed domestics should fly in all directions; but 
Horsica intercepted an old woman in her flight, and 
on pain of instant death compelled her to point out 
her master's bed-chamber. Her exclamations and 
entreaties not to enter were in some measure ludicrous. 
Horsica explained to me that she said her master, 
Mynheer {somethings) had brought home a fair young 
bride from Amsterdam only the previous evening, and 
urged upon us the impropriety of entering the bridal 
chamber." 

" Call to him Horsica," said I, " to come forth, and 
surrender himself." 

12 



134 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

"And lose him, for our pains," said the ruffian, as , 
he threw himself with violence against the door, that 
acknowledged his power by giving a free entrance. 

A tall genteel-looking youth, in the act of arming 
himself, met my view. He was agitated and pale, 
dropped the sword he was drawing, pointed one hand 
to the bed, in which lay his bride, and raised the 
other with an air of entreaty to Horsica. I caught a 
glimpse of a fair hand and arm, throwing the sheet 
over her face, as unable to bear the view of armed 
men in her bridal chamber. To the young Dutch- 
man's demand of what we wanted, Horsica replied, 
^^ Himself ^ as hostage for the lives of thirteen Eng- 
lish seamen, held by the governor under sentence of 
death, according to his proclamation." 

'' I am a non-combatant," said the youth, " and 
not answerable for the governor's conduct." 

Horsica pointed to his military accoutrements. " It 
is the mihtia, merely to enforce order, and protect us 
against our slaves." Horsica said fiercely, " This is 
trifling ! Secure him with the other prisoners." 

And as our stout orderlies proceeded to bind his 
arms behind his back, his lovely young wife, con- 
quering her sex's fears in the extremity of her dis- 
tress, threw herself at Horsica's feet. He roughly 
repulsed her, and pointed to me, as the nominal com- 
mander. I never yet could resist gentle woman's 
pleading eye, and least of all then, that I saw this 
lovely girl at my feet, her light auburn tresses partly 
shading the beauty of her strongly agitated and 
heaving bosom, her blue eyes fixed on mine with 
such an imploring look of anguish, and entreating for 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 135 

mercy ; I did not understand the language she utter- 
ed, but the soft voice in which it was conveyed went 
directly to my heart, while the natural grace of her 
movements, graceful because they were natural^ her 
unaffected terror, conquered by her affection for her 
youthful lord, spoke eloquently without words. 

'' Horsica," said I, in strong agitation, " 1 cannot 
consent to the slaughter of this interesting creature's 
youthful husband." 

" And yet you will to the murder of thirteen of 
your countrymen. I will not accompany any other 
party commanded by a boy, — this business requires 
men. If this man is liberated, I shall instantly re- 
turn to the commodore, and tell him that the tears of 
a woman are estimated more than the lives of your 
comrades." 

This uttered in a harsh tone checked my roman- 
tic feelings, particularly as I was fully alive to the 
importance of the prisoner. " Then," said I, " speak 
in a consoling tone to this afflicted girl. O that I 
could make her understand me ! — Say, her husband 
is in no danger, and will be tenderly treated," and I 
took her fair hand to call her attention to Horsica. 
What he said I know not ; but the tones it was ut- 
tered in grated on my hearing, and produced a wild 
hysterical scream, with a frantic movement to clasp 
her husband. The orderlies, who had bound the 
youth's arms, would have repulsed her, had I not 
called out in a loud tone, " Monsters^ desist ! " and I 
hastened to unbind his arms, with which he clasped 
his beautiful and youthful bride. 

^' Oh, myn Godt^''^ said Horsica, "the boy is mad 



136 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Seize, and bind that prisoner to the stoutest man that 
rides^^'' and drawing near me he hoarsely said, " Will 
you load your soul with the murder of thirteen com- 
rades, disobey your orders, and lose your commission 
for a woman ? " 

I felt the good sense of this remark, though it 
grated harshly on the excited state of my mind, and 
I closed my hand on my eyes to shut out this cruel 
scene. The devoted and affectionate girl was in an 
instant at my feet, embracing my knees, and water- 
ing my hands with her innocent tears, and I shamed 
my manhood by letting mine fall on her lovely head. 
The infernal hideous voice of Horsica, '' All is ready," 
roused me to my duty, and as I tore myself from her 
grasp, her maddening shrieks harrowed up every ten- 
der feeling in my heart, and pulling my hat over my 
eyes, I sprang upon my horse, and ordered a forward 
movement in double quick time. We reached the 
boats, that fortunately had just touched the beach, in 
time to prevent the fierce attack of the Dutch com- 
modore's flying camp, whose van-guard hove in sight 
as our rear-guard reembarked. I threw myself into 
La Fortune's barge with the prisoner. Smart, who 
came ashore in her as her officer, and now, with his 
arms bound, faced me from the bow of the boat. He 
maintained a dogged and sullen silence, which accord- 
ed well with my frame of mind. As Horsica had 
urged on me the necessity of shooting the horses that 
had rendered us such good service, and some angry 
altercation ensued, the whole of the prisoners under 
his charge went off to La Franchise in the commo- 
dore's barge, the young burgomaster looking peculiar- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 137 

ly mournful at parting with me, his only friend. 
Arrived on board La Fortune, Captain Vansittart 
inquired with great surprise the cause of his mate's 
degradation, and on my explaining his conduct, ex- 
pressed the greatest horror and detestation. 

''Wait till we have made sail," — for the signal 
was flying on board the commodore, to hoist in the 
boats, and make all sail ; — '' and I will teach him a 
lesson that he shall long remember. Mr. Evans," 
addressing his clerk, "disrate Mr. Smart to lands- 
man," and to the first lieutenant — "When the sig- 
nal is obeyed, turn the hands up for punishment, and 
I will give the monster five dozen." 

I afterwards heard he punctually performed his 
promise. I begged for the jolly-boat to drop me on 
board La Franchise, for I felt most anxious to interest 
the commodore for my young friend, the burgomaster. 
This request was complied with, and I stepped on 
board La Franchise as she bore up for Fort Am- 
sterdam, having directed the Rein Deer, by signal, to 
cruize to windward of the Island. 

THE EXECUTION. 

So many years have elapsed that memory's log 
does not enable me to describe precisely the person of 
the Honorable John Murray, (whose sister, Lady Au- 
gusta, was married to his Royal Highness the Duke 
of Sussex,) but I remember well, that on entering 
the cabin of La Franchise, a tall, slender gentleman, 
much emaciated in person, and looking in extreme ill- 
health, rose from the easy-chair, in which he had 
been reclining in his dressing-gown, and with courtly 
12* 



138 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

address answered my bow, saying, "You are the 
officer, I presume, who commanded last night's party 
on shore." 

I again bowed, (affirmatively;) he resumed his 
seat, and motioned me to take one near him. 

"I am far from well," said he, "and very weak, 
which must be my apology for any seeming rude- 
ness." 

This was unnecessary, for a more finished gentle- 
man, with polished urbanity and suavity of manner, 
it had never been my good fortune to meet. 

" From Horsica's report, I judge your feelings 
were too susceptible for the irksome duty imposed on 
you." 

" I hope. Captain Murray," I rejoined, "that I car- 
ried your intentions into execution in the most lenient 
manner that circumstances would permit. Horsica's 
advice appeared to me to spring from the disposition 
of a demon ; and I feel assured, not only from your 
appearance, but from the high character for humanity 
you bear, that were you, sir, in my place, you would 
have acted in a similar manner." 

He replied, "At your age I should. My remarks 
are far from intending to convey any censure ; on the 
contrary, 1 highly appro(re of the feelings you 
evinced, and have liberated the youngest of your 
prisoners, on his promise to put the burgomaster's 
and other letters in possession of the governor in 
two hours. I have also addressed him, with official 
information, that those the fortune of war has placed 
in my power shall be hanged in sight of Fort Am- 
sterdam, at the hour of noon, that is, should but one 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 139 

English prisoner suffer death in accordance with the 
proclamation the governor had communicated to me." 

'' O sir ! would that you had been pleased to have 
made the youthful burgomaster the messenger, per- 
haps it might have saved from madness a lovely and 
most interesting female. Had you witnessed the ag- 
ony of this picture of innocence and youthful beauty, 
as with clasped hands and streaming eyes she knelt 
at my feet, and with all the devoted and intense af- 
fection of woman's heart, impilored for the safety of 
her youthful husband. Captain Murray," I pursued, 
" had the world's welfare depended, on his death, you 
would have liberated him." 

The commodore here leaned his face on his hand, 
which prevented me from reading his mild and benig- 
nant countenance ; but I saw, from the excited state 
of his nerves displayed by his agitation, that he was 
strongly affected ; and being warmed, I went on to 
state the unutterable misery and agony of grief that 
she was now suffering, concluding with the following 
appeal. 

''Captain Murray, I have faintly portrayed what I 
have seen ; but for your future peace of 'mind, and 
for your soul's sake, harm not that young man's life." 

The commodore raised his head with a slight look 
of surprise, sighed very heavily, and motioned me to 
ring the bell. He seemed near fainting, and his 
servant presented a restorative draught. He again 
bowed to me, which I construed into dismissal, rose, 
and with a low obeisance retired, heartily glad that I 
was not loaded with the same heavy responsibility 
that preyed so much on his susceptible mind. 



140 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

I found the squadron under a crowd of sail, stand- 
ding for Fort Amsterdam, distance three leagues, 
with the exception of the Rein Deer, who had hauled 
her wind, and with tack and half tack, took short 
boards to windward of the island, to watch our Amer- 
ican brothers. Accosting a fine young man, who was 
officer of the watch, I aked if it was his opinion, from 
his knowledge of his captain, that he could have the 
heart to hang up eight innocent men. 

" I have no doubt of their execution, should a sin- 
gle Englishman die by the governor's order, even if 
Murray's heart broke in witnessing it." 

" It will be an act of hellish cruelty," replied I, 
''and call down from just heaven the vengeance of 
the Most High upon all the aiders and abettors in this 
most direful tragedy." 

" I do not see, sir," said the young officer, 
" how the commodore can abandon thirteen men to a 
shameful death for obeying his orders. He is a hu- 
mane man, an excellent officer, and one of great 
determination ; he has worn out a strong constitution 
in blockading this abominable island, and, in my 
opinion, is*'seriously ill." 

The lieutenant was right. Captain Murray died 
in ten days, evincing, in the agonies of death, his 
love for his country, by ordering his body to be 
buried in a sand-bank off Curagoa, well knowing that 
his frigate could not be spared to convey it to Ja- 
maica. 

" Can 1 see the prisoners, Mr. Fleming ? " approach- 
ing the first lieutenant. 

*' Undoubtedly, sir ; show the officer to the Dutch 
prisoners." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 141 

And I descended to the gun-room, where they were 
surrounded by sentinels, and attended by the chap- 
lain, who addressed them in the French language, of 
which the burgomaster had sufficient knowledge to 
make himself understood. They all looked worn 
down by mental suffering ; and as the burgomaster 
placed a lock of his hair in my hands, he earnestly 
made me promise to have it conveyed to his young 
and lovely bride, with information that his dying 
thoughts should alone be fixed on her, whom he hoped 
to meet in another and a better world. I wanted 
comfort myself, therefore had none to bestow on him, 
poor youth ! but ascended the deck in time to see 
this smart frigate furl her sails, come to anchor, and 
square her yards, making the signal for the squadron 
to do the same in close order. A shot from the mole, 
and one from the fort, proved us to be just out of 
reach of fire, but near enough to observe all passing 
on Fort Amsterdam, where the Dutch troops were 
drawn up in military parade, with the English pris- 
oners in the centre of their square. The Dutch gov- 
ernor and his staff were on horseback in the fort, and 
masses of people congregated about it. All eyes 
turned on the British squadron, as they displayed the 
flag that had braved the battle and the breeze. The 
commodore hoisted a white one at the fore, and fired 
a gun ; his gig then left the frigate with a truce-flag 
in her bow, and a lieutenant in full uniform, bearing 
letters to the Dutch governor from Captain Murray, 
and his prisoners. As the Dutch boat received our 
truce-flag, our commodore, followed by the squadron, 
struck his flags and pendant half-mast, as mourning 



142 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

the necessity, and made the signal for the boats, 
manned and armed, to attend the punishment of 
death. At the same time eight yard-ropes were rove, 
and the carpenter's axe and hammer might be heard 
fitting the platforms over each cat-head. Shocked at 
these preparations, I obtained their jolly-boat, and re- 
turned on board my own ship, where all eyes were 
turned on the Dutch governor, upon whose fiat 
depended twenty-one lives. They had erected two 
triangles, on which lay a beam with thirteen halters 
displayed. The Dutchman and his staff, with spy- 
glasses, were keen observers of the squadron ; and 
our commodore, with great tact, put his ships in 
mourning, tolled the bell as a passing knell, and 
ordered his bugles to play the dead march in Saul; 
and as they sounded mournfully over the calm bay, a 
shrill and piercing shriek was heard from the graceful 
person of the burgomaster's lovely wife, who with 
frantic energy embraced the governor's knees, and 
piteously begged for mercy on her husband. He 
must have been harder than adamant to have with- 
stood this heart-broken and drooping flower. I saw 
him raise her, and order the gallows to be taken 
down. The prisoners were marched to the mole, 
and embarked in a large Dutch boat ; and as she 
pulled for the commodore. La Franchise resumed her 
flags at the mast head, dismissed all appearance of 
mourning, and the crews of the squadron, that were 
clustered like bees in the rigging, simultaneously 
cheered ; — and I felt as if a mountain had been 
removed from my breast. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 143 



STORMING OF THE DUTCH CAMP. 



CUR A90 A . 

The signal to heave-to was flying in La Fran- 
chise, and our second luff brought on board the fol- 
lowing order : — 

" It being the intention of Captain Murray to at- 
tack and disperse the armed force under the Dutch 
commodore, now encamped in the interior of the 
Island of Curagoa, you are hereby required and di- 
rected to select your quota of men and officers from 
those who may volunteer, accordmg to the subjoined 
list ; the whole to assemble on board La Franchise, 
armed with cutlasses, pistols, and pikes an hour after 
sunset this evening." (Signed.) J. Murray. 

This order obtaining publicity, roused all the valo- 
rous ambition contained in his majesty's sloop ; and 
the whole of the company, from captain to cook's 
boy, volunteered on this important occasion. Our 
chief, who did not want personal courage, went to 
the commodore to tender his offer, as commander of 
the party, but with the utmost politeness he was in- 
formed that my gallant friend, Fleming, was already 
selected, in hopes he would render as good an account 



144 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



of them as he had done of the Dyke Fort. This 
wounded Captain Mac's pride, and he returned with 
his naturally sweet temper rather ruffled, finding me^ 
inspecting the party I meant to command. 

'' It is my intention, sir, to place my sloop's party 
under the command of the second lieutenant, and he 
will consequently select his own men." Thus vent- 
ing part of the spleen engendered by his mortification 
on me. At sunset the squadron made sail to close 
the shore, with the signal to follow the commodore's 
motions. Now darkness covered the face of the 
deep, and we all hove to, hoisted out the boats, and 
mustered in the attacking party, who were the elite 
of the ship, and had been busily employed grinding 
cutlasses, sharpening boarding-pikes, and selecting 
pistols with good locks well flinted, each sailor wear- 
ing on his sword-arm a broad patch of white canvass 
sewed to his jacket, as a distinguishing mark. The 
whole landed at nine, P. M., and were marched off 
the beach by companies, La Franchise and La For- 
tune's marines forming the van, with an advance of 
four, under a stout sergeant of that corps ; this man 
was immoderately fat for a sergeant of marines, and 
it convinces me growing fat depends more on the 
temper, than feeding of the animal, whether it walks 
on two legs or four. Upon the fat sergeant's making 
out the encampment of the Dutch, he retreated on 
the main body, who were advancing in, and with 
caution. 

" Did you see the advance sentinel ? " said Lieu- 
tenant Fleming. 

" I crept near enough to shoot him dead, but dared 
not risk the noise.'' 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 145 

*' Can you seize and gag him without alarming the 
camp? " 

"No; though the fellow seems to have neither 
ears nor eyes, the space is too open to cut him down, 
and he would not die without a squall." 

" Officers to the front ; " and they collected round 
the commanding officer. "Now, Mynheer Horsica, 
describe the position of the Dutch commodore, and 
what we have to encounter, that we may shape our 
measures accordingly." 

"All the officers," said Horsica, " with the compa- 
ny of the Keimy Hasler marines, sleep in, and garri- 
son, a good sized farm-house, built of stone, and tiled. 
It can only be fired from within ; nothing combusti- 
ble without, except the street-door, which is African 
•oak, and to which a flight of stone steps, eight in 
number, lead. On each side of the door stands a 
brass six pounder, loaded with grape and canister, and 
the encampment of the remainder of the men is in 
rear of the house. I will creep forward and shoot 
the sentinel, and let the report of my musket be the 
signal for the assault." 

"Gentlemen, you have heard Mynheer Horsica's 
detail and plan of attack. I approve of every part 
hut shooting the sentinel. The marines must carry 
the house and field-pieces ; the sailors, equally divi- 
ded, will move on the wing of the marines, and rush 
upon the camp. The whole will move forward in 
double-quick time at the sound of Horsica's musket. 
Till then advance silently on the sentinel." And the 
storming-party walked with the greatest caution till 
they could see the poor sentinel, who, unsuspicious of 
13 



146 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

immediate danger, incautiously paced his lonely 
round. A slight disturbance in the nearest bush- 
wood caused him to bring his musket down to the 
charge, and my informant (our second lufF) was near 
enough to hear the click of cocking his piece. Hor- 
sica, whose ears were open, paused in his stealthy 
pace, and, tiger-like, crouched in his lair, while his 
alarmed opponent strained his sight to penetrate 
through the darkness of night. Finding all still, he 
hummed the fag-end of a song, and resumed his beat. 
The blood-thirsty Dutchman again crept on, and our 
party moved slowly towards him. The sharp report 
of Horsica's rifle, the piercing cry of agony, and con- 
vulsive spring of the sentinel, with the British hurrah, 
were all simultaneous with the desperate rush on the 
fortified house and camp. The surprise was most 
complete and successful, and resistance, except in in- 
dividual instances, faint. The captain of marines of 
the Kenny Hasler rushed half-clothed to defend the 
street-door, and was encountered by one of our ma- 
rines, who brought his bayonet to the charge, and 
ran up the steps for the purpose of thrusting him out 
of the way, in doing which he stumbled, his hat flew 
off, leaving his bare head exposed to his adversary's 
sabre. The captain was a very powerful man, and 
with his huge sword cut three times on the poor fel- 
low's head as he, was rising, and strange to say, with- 
out penetrating the skull, which, I suppose, must 
have been comfortably thick, for the marine had suf- 
ficient strength left to pass his bayonet through his 
adversary's body, who fell dead at the threshold of 
his door. Fortunately for the Dutch commodore, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 147 

business or pleasure had called him into the town of 
Amsterdam on the previous evening, leaving the 
camp under the command of his captain, who was 
taken prisoner, with his two sons, and sent on board 
La Franchise. The field-pieces also were brought 
off, and the victorious party cut a great splash on the 
beach in the morning with their prisoners and plun- 
der. They were most deservedly cheered by the 
squadron as they passed to their respective ships, and 
if their gallant commander, Fleming, still remains 
a lieutenant, (which I fear is the case,) I can only 
say it is a stigma on those who held the gate of pro- 
motion in the days of yore. 

The first person I met on my return to Port Royal 
was an invalid midshipman of his Majesty's ship 
Goalong, lately captured from the Spaniards, who 
gave me the following melancholy account of the 
loss of the captain and six prime seamen. 

" Our captain's signal," said he, " to dine with the 
commodore, flying on board the Pelican," called the 
signal-man to the officer of the watch. 

'' Hoist the ' affirmative,' " was the reply ; and at 
four bells, P. M. his Majesty's brig Pelican backed 
her main-topsail, his Majesty's brig Goalong having 
previously hove to; and the captain, in full fig, came 
on the quarter-deck, and desired that the gig might 
be hoisted out and manned, to take him on board the 
Pelican to dinner. The officers assembled, the side 
piped, and the youthful commander, gracefully re- 
turning the general bow, stepped over the side, and 
into his gig, whose bow-oar was inimitably twirled 



148 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

by the bowman, as the boatswain gave the shrill 
whistle on his silver call, and the sidesmen, agreea- 
bly to the signal, retired from their stations, unship- 
ping the green baize on the captain's side-ropes. 

" Oars ! " said the commander, " desire the first 
lieutenant to come to the gangway. Mr. ," ad- 
dressing him, " you will keep an eye on the commo- 
dore, and follow his motions." 

^' Ay, ay, sir." 

" And I shall keep the boat." 

"Very well, sir ; " and the first lieutenant replaced 
his hat as the young commander ordered his crew to 
give way. When the gig reached the Pelican, she 
filled, dropt her foresail, and stood off from the east 
end of Porto Rico ; distance seven leagues. 

His Majesty's sloop Goalong literally complied with 
the orders left by her captain, and followed the mo- 
tions of the commodore to the minutia of sending aa 
additional topman aloft, provided the senior officer 
set the example. Shortly after sunset the Pelican 
hauled her foresail up and backed her main-topsail. 
The Goalong immediately hove to, complying with 
the captain's order too literally, without closing the 
Pelican, who was observed to be rigging out her 
studding-sail booms, and shaking out a reef of the 
topsails. In a few minutes she bore up under a 
cloud of sail, running free for the Spanish Main. 
Our observing friend of the Goalong instantly did the 
same ; and leaving the heels of the Pelican, overtook 
her 'about midnight; for it occurred to our sapient 
commanding-officer of the Goalong; that it was un- 
usual, to say the least of it, that his captain had not 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 149 

returned, particularly as the breeze had freshened 
considerably, and the Pelican was running too fast to 
tow a boat with safety. 

'' Ho ! the Pelican a-hoy ! " hailed a loud voice 
from the Goalong. 

"Hilloa!" responded the officer of the watch of 
that brig. 

" Is Captain * * ^ coming on board to-night ? " 

*' Good God ! " said a strongly-agitated voice, ** is 
he not on board ? " 

This came from the captain of the Pelican, who, 
alarmed by the hailing, had sprung from his bed, and 
in his shirt alone, now interrogated the querist. 

" He left this brig in his boat, when we hove to, a 
little after sunset. O merciful God ! he is, before 
this, food for sharks ! Turn the hands up, shorten 
sail, and haul to the wind. Goalong a-hoy ! beat up 
to where we made sail from, and at daylight keep a 
good distance from us. I will give twenty pounds to 
the first who discovers his gig." 

His brother commander then retired to dress in 
great and visible agony and grief, nor did he, when 
dressed, leave the deck until the following evening, 
having during that time kept look-out men, not only 
from the mast-heads, but from every other point that 
gave a view of the wide and open sea. During that 
eventful time, as the brigs crossed each other, many 
were the epithets applied to the first lieutenant of the 
Goalong, whom some did not scruple to consider as 
an intentional murderer ; though I am of opinion this 
dreadful accident arose from sheer stupidity. What- 
ever the cause, the effect was dreadful, for, melancholy 
13* 



150 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

to relate, neither the young captain, boat, nor crew, 
were ever heard of more. 

The Goalong bore the sad tidings to the comman- 
der-in-chief at Port Royal, and the first lieutenant 
delivered the captain of the Pelican's explanation. 

The veteran Dacre read the letter with great emo- 
tion, and our worthy preferred his request for the 
command of the brig. " I cannot give you that," 
said the admiral; "but if possible, I will give you 
something you deserve better." 

'' Indeed, sir ! " said the worthy lieutenant, with 
the blandest smile imaginable, " what is that ? " 

" A halter I " responded the admiral, in his sternest 
tone. 

Gentle reader! hast thou ever been attacked by 
rats — and felt thy blood run cold and thy flesh 
creep as the repulsive vermin have swarmed upon 
you ? I have ; and here commences the tale of 

THE RATS. 

Sir Graham Moore began the Spanish war early in 
the present century, by attacking four of their gal- 
leon frigates, one of which, bearing a rear-admiral's 
flag, was sunk by his fire ; the others he brought into 
Portsmouth, where the treasure was unshipped, and 
sent to tha temporium of the comm.ercial world, Lon- 
don. The prizes, being cleared of provisions and 
stores, were strictly searched, and left bereft of eve- 
rything, save an immoderate quantity of Bandacoot 
rats ; but as an idea was entertained that the precious 
metals might still remain in the linings of the ships, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 151 

placed there for the purpose of cheating the mother 
country of its duties, by being smuggled on shore, /, 
with a sergeant's guard, was placed in one of them, 
whose name I forget, for the purpose of protecting 
such supposed property. I entered the captain's cabin 
as a winter's sun was leaving the northern hemi- 
sphere, to gladden the hearts that beat in a southern 
one, for it was in the month of December, and not 
very remote from Christmas. The weather was sea- 
sonable, for the snow fell fast and blinding ; and the 
fire in the captain's cabin, of which I took possession, 
was truly exhilirating ; so much so, that I strutted 
np and down it, fancying myself in command of so 
fine a frigate, and even with the Spanish captain's 
trumpet, loudly gave orders, with only myself to ex- 
ecute them. This did very well till the lamp was 
illuminated. It was a large one, and threw a flood 
of light over the spacious cabin. My cot I caused 
to be hung rather high, or near the ceiling, for I had 
been cautioned that thousands of voracious rats, of 
the Bandacoot species, infested the empty ship, with 
nothing in the shape of food but each other, and this 
induced me to hang my cot higher than usual. I 
had, during my castle building, when fancying my- 
self captain of the goodly ship, been startled by the 
strange and uncouth noises arising from their prey- 
ing on each other ; but being then too much excited 
and elated by my waking dreams, I had no time to 
bestow a thought on my agreeable shipmates. Hav- 
ing dispatched my cold dinner, and my servant boy 
having retired to join the sergeant's party in the 
gun-room, I drew my chair to the fire : with a book 



152 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

in my hand, and a bottle of port wine by my side, I 
endeavored to make myself comfortable ; but 

" Man never is, but always to be blest." 

And my comfort was greatly disturbed by troops 
of rats sweeping across the cabin-floor, giving me a 
side glance en passant: and laying down my book 
to throw something at them, I found innumerable 
small fierce eyes glaring ferociously at me from all 
corners and holes in the cabin. This completely did 
away with the magic of Mrs. Radcliffe's vivid and 
romantic pen, and the '' Mysteries of Udolpho," 
on that night, remained still a mystery to me. I 
placed my drawn dirk on the table, my audacious 
neighbors seeming to take courage, as mine, like Bob 
Acres, began to ooze out at my fingers' ends, for I 
always entertained a great antipathy to the sagacious 
vermin ; and pride alone, with a sense of its being un- 
ofiicer-like, prevented me from joining the sergeant's 
party, from whom I often heard bursts of laughter, 
and the loud chorus of a song. I will take an extra 
glass of wine by way of a night-draught and night-cap, 
and by turning into my high-slung cot, raise myself 
above these infernal vermin, and laugh at their impo- 
tent attempts on my plump person. But first for a 
look at the sentinels, whom I found walking at a brisk 
pace, as the snow fell fast, and the cold was intense. 
Ordering that no boat should be allowed to come 
alongside during the hours of darkness, I returned to 
(I wish I could say) my cheerful fire, for shoals of 
these disgusting vermin were occupied in picking up 
the crumbs of dinner, as I resumed my seat, and 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 153 

which I made a stepping place into my cot, taking 
care to deposit my book and clothes in the same ap- 
parent place of safety. I lay watchful and restless, 
and heard the midnight guard relieve the posts, and 
by way of varying the scene, looked over the sides of 
my cot, at my nimble friends, who thickly covered the 
floor, and on whom the lamp threw a strong light; 
but when I caught the ferocious and ravenous glare 
of their small eyes fixed upon me, my flesh crept and 
my blood tingled at the idea of being eaten by them. 

Putting up a prayer to that Power that alone can 
shield us from all dangers, with a heavy boot-jack in 
my right hand, I dropped into a sweet slumber : and 
it must have been profound ; for when I awoke, from 
the pressure of the bed clothes, there must have been 
a considerable additional weight, as the white coun- 
terpane was totally obscured by dark-colored rats, 
and one of the hideous brood was in the act of seizing 
my chin, as my eyes unclosed upon the frightful 
scene. With convulsive energy I kicked down the 
clothes, and throwing the boot-jack at the troops that 
thronged around and under my cot, ran barefooted 
and undressed to call the sentinels, and with their 
assistance transferred my cot into the gun-room 
among the marines, where the lonely feelings and 
sense of desolation vanished ; but the horror with 
which the vermin impressed me is not yet effaced ; 
and glad beyond measure was I to see an old buffer 
from the Royal William guardship come at ten in the 
morning to relieve me. 

I told him my adventure of the previous night, but 
the old fellow smiled, and said, " I was young not to 



154 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

know how to foil rats. Observe how simply it is 
done," said he, placing canvass over his cot, and 
sticking it taut to the sides, only leaving an aperture 
for him to enter, which he closed with a pokin and 
needle when in it, in sail-maker fashion. " Thus I 
defy your enemy, youngster," said he, "and their use- 
less efforts and gambols will serve to enliven the 
scene, and take from the monotony of living alone." 

Gladly did I leave my sprightly friends in the hands 
of such a philosopher, and with double enjoyment did 
I relish the comforts of the well-ordered ward-room 
mess in his Majesty's ship * * * *, in which I then 
served as third lieutenant. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 155 



SCENES IN THE WEST INDIES. 

Four years after the present century had dawned 
on this small planet, bringing to it steam, gas, and all 
sorts of science, I was appointed by my commander, 
then chief on the Jamaica station, to a very old sloop 
there, to domesticate, among other pleasantries, with 
scorpions, centipedes, and cockroaches, a good-natured 
fag for second luff, a purser fond of bargains, and a 
large raw-boned captain, very young, and full of fun 
and frolic. I had lately arrived on the station, and 
found Wellington boots, however valuable in Eng- 
land, not particularly conducive to comfort in that hot 
climate. After undergoing martyrdom for some hours 
with a very tight fit, quite new, the purser offered to 
relieve me from them at half price. With soap, and 
boot-hooks, and many a hearty pull, he managed to 
encase his feet and legs in them, and then began his 
torture ; for they, being long unused to a tight fit, 
thought proper to swell, and, from their enlarged 
state, refused to come out of their incarceration. All 
sorts of means were resorted to in vain, and cutting 
them off was proposed and rejected by the angry 
purser, who swore, as he paid for them, he would 
wear them; and accordingly turned into bed with 
them on, from whence his groans, exclamations, exe- 



156 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

crations, and repinings, kept us in continual laughter; 
and at 6, a. m. the knife was applied, and he was re- 
lieved from great torture of body to endure the men- 
tal one arising from a commercial loss. 

We were cruising off St. Domingo, the black brig- 
ands were pressing the town, and being short of pro- 
visions, the governor ordered out the useless mouths, 
meaning children, and man's greatest comfort, the 
fair, the affectionate, the gentle sex, sweet soothers of 
our woes, and soft comforters in affliction, through 
good report and evil. These gentle and afflicted be- 
ings were, I am grieved to reflect, despoiled of their 
goods, and passed on to Porto Rico, or any other port 
they chose to wander to, without the care or trouble 
arising from property. Having amassed considerable 
prize-money from these exactions, we one night sent 
a mate and four men to take charge of a large sloop, 
being in chase of several others then in sight, with 
orders to keep as near to ns as possible ; but if he 
parted company, to repair to Oca Bay, in St. Domin- 
go, and wait our arrival. On the fourth day H. M. 
sloop cast anchor in the said bay, and a truly delight- 
ful one it was. Here thousands of cattle run wild, 
and with a large party I went into the forest for the 
purpose of shooting them. As the sea-breeze fell, 
the scent of the wounded and dead oxen was offen- 
sive, and resembled butcher's shambles more than the 
pure air in these delightful regions. The tall cab- 
bage-trees now began to obscure the twilight, and 
the English circular faces became elongated, while 
the smooth open brow wrinkled, and lines of care 
and anxiety began deeply to indent themselves, as I 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 157 

ordered a return to the brig, and each man to see his 
arms in proper state for defence against any of the 
brigands, either black or white, that might be out in 
these extensive wilds on their predatory excursions ; 
for stories were rife at Jamaica of the most horrible 
atrocities committed by both parties, roasting alive at 
slow fires being cruelty of a low grade, not worthy of 
particular mention in these days of horror ; and a cor- 
responding sharp look-out a-head, astern, and to star- 
board and port, while frequent councils of war, and 
cautions to look to our feet, as the sharp rattle of the 
deadly snake curdled our blood, by giving plain inti- 
mation of its contiguity ; while the slight raps from 
the elastic boughs regaining their position, as we 
pressed through the underwood, made us start and 
tremble, thinking the fangs of the reptile buried in 
our flesh. Cold perspiration bedewed my forehead, 
as I called a halt. 

" What say ye, men, are we in the right direction 
for the brig ? and can any of you make out an open- 
ing to clear this infernal wood ? " 

" From the bearings I took of the sun when last 
visible," said Mr. Pipes, the boatswain, " we should 
alter course to port two points ; but, shiver my tim- 
bers, what has caught hold of my starboard keel ? " 

At this moment a fierce rattle caused a revulsion 
of blood, with a faint cry of horror, and an apparent 
disposition to fly from the dangerous spot. Mr. Pipes 
made a forward spring, and the shrill whistle from his 
call echoed through the dreary wood, as he very dis- 
tinctly piped belay. 

" Boatswain," said I, " you will rouse the atten- 
14 



158 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



tion of some of the murdering parties, and our scalps 
may decorate their belts." 

'' Better engage them than a rattlesnake, but hark ! " 
and the welcome sound of a gun boomed over the 
high cabbage-trees, and the concussion shook the 
light foliage of the underwood. '^ Thank God ! " 
spontaneously burst from heart and lip, and we all 
pressed forward to where the sound appeared to come 
from. Our exertions were rewarded by the sight of 
the calm and lovely bay, with his Majesty's sloop 
riding majestically in it, her low black frame strongly 
contrasted by her tall taper masts that gracefully 
reared themselves on high. Another shrill whistle 
from the boatswain's call, answered by his mates 
from the brig, ordering black and white cutters away, 
and most gladly did we step into the boats, but with- 
out two bullocks that we had attempted to bring in 
pieces to the beach, — they had made their escape 
from the shoulders that had long borne them, to ben- 
efit the beasts and reptiles that infested the woods of 
Oca Bay, in St. Domingo, named by the justly cele- 
brated Columbus, Hispaniola. As the burning sun 
next morning rose from his watery bed, the signal 
man reported our prize in the offing, and as ten days 
had elapsed since we had last seen her, water and 
provision were placed in the boats, and they were 
despatched to her assistance as she lay like a log on 
the calm sea, her sails idly flapping to the masts ap- 
proaching her. The boats, by the rapidity with 
which they made their way, drove off the sharks that 
had conpjregated round the hapless vessel. Countless 
fins might be seen above water, (like a plantation of 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 



159 



stunted firs,) of these voracious monsters of the deep, 
attracted doubtless by the smell of the sick, and the 
bodies daily thrown from the vessel, for she was in 
wretched plight, without fresh water, and little pro* 
vision. Never shall I forget the haggard and spec- 
tre-like countenance of the men, the helpless moans 
of the women and children, as they lay on the deck, 
exposed to the fierce rays of the melting sun ; their 
tongues swollen, and protruded from their parched 
and blackened lips, already the prey of myriads of 
insects. — some eyes wildly glaring in strong deliri- 
um, while others were glazed and deeply set in the 
agonies of welcome death. 

'^ Water ! water ! " hoarsely croaked the spectre of 
a man, looking wishfully at the breakers in our boat. 
Merciful Heaven ! It was " Thomas," the mate, who 
only ten days back, with a " John Bull " face, and a 
well-fed person, took charge of this prize, in which 
he had found a few gallons of brackish water, and 
above thirty women and children ; the breaker that had 
hastily been placed in his boat containing six gallons, 
and that alone was pure and drinkable. It was soon, 
from want of due care and precaution, swallowed by 
the numerous parched throats that thirsted for it. 
Faint indeed are the ideas of those, who never expe- 
rienced a want of this precious fluid, of the ecstatic 
delight given, in this sultry, indeed burning clime, 
from a hearty draught those will take who have been 
long debarred. It is a foretaste of the joys of heaven, 
and was forcibly expressed by the feeble eye lighting 
up with animation, and those set and glared in death 
again expressing gratitude and delight. One poor 



160 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

girl, apparently eighteen, had drunk copiously of sea- 
water. If, reader, you have seen the animated skele- 
ton lately shown in England, you may have a faint 
conception of what poor human beiugs may suffer 
before welcome death brings relief. Alas ! the ine- 
quality of misery in this best of all possible worlds. 
'' The proud man's contumely, — the insolence of 
office " availing itself of its small degree of power 
to inflict all the injustice and misery^ that the little 
and low minds of vulgar men can visit on nobler 
natures. But Dives and Lazarus will, no doubt, ex- 
emplify and equalize, or, nautical ly expressed, square 
the yards hereafter, and the longest life, compared to 
eternity, is but short, pass it how you will. " What- 
ever is, is right," says Mr. Pope ; and I, from long ex- 
perience, firmly agree with him, that "there is a 
power that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we 
may." But a truce to digression. The prize was 
towed alongside, and the sick by the surgeon and 
nurses tended with careful kindness. The dead were 
committed to the jaws of the sea-monsters, that had 
hovered round the prize so long, and, as the mate 
stated, were not to be driven off with the blows their 
waning strength enabled them to strike, but each day, 
as they became more sickly and enervated, the sharks 
thronged and pressed upon the sides of the floating 
tomb, as if they were inclined to spring on its deck," 
and make the living, as well as the dead, their prey. 
How wonderful is the instinct of the brute creation, 
that can induce these large and voracious monsters of 
the deep to keep up with and constantly around these 
floating hospitals ! I have heard of a shark of great 



NEI.SONIAN REMINISCENCES. 161 

magnitude, in Port Royal, that swam round the ship- 
ping in that port at noon each day, receiving from the 
men the ofFal of their dinner, invariably taken at that 
time. As this shark was a complete check on deser- 
tion, the officers would not allow it to be fired at, or 
in any way molested. In consequence, it regularly 
at noon might be seen, its fin above water, rapidly 
making its way to the shipping. He was named 
Port Royal Lion, and quite domesticated among the 
mariners that frequented that port. 

Again we resumed our station off the town of St. 
Domingo, now most vigorously pressed by the black 
brigands, under their black chief, Christophe, who, 
upon one of our youthful captains being brought be- 
fore him, on the capital crime of having effected the 
escape of a beautiful French woman, thus addressed 
him : — '' Sir captain, your life is forfeited by our 
laws, which must be respected equally with your 
own ; I pardon you now, on condition that you report 
my message truly to your admiral, Sir John Duck- 
worth, whom I respect for beating our mutual enemy, 
the French. Tell him, if he chooses to put such 
boys as you in command of ships, not again to send 
them to trouble our free state ; for, as yonder sun now 
shines, this is the last act of clemency they shall re- 
ceive at my hands." 

So saying, his sable majesty rose with dignity and 
dissolved the court, much to the satisfaction of the 
culprit. 

''Shortly after four, A. M., having the morning 
watch, my good genius induced me to heave to, the 
weather being hazy and the shore indictinctly visible. 
14* 



162 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES 

As the day began to dawn, the cathead-man announc- 
ed a squadron on the lee bow. With the glass I soon 
discovered them to be men-of-war, and laying to on 
the starboard tack. 

" Call the captain, — turn the hands up, — out with 
the reefs, and loose the top-gallant sails." 

By this my bonny Scot reached the deck, and 
agreed with me in opinion that they were a French 
squadron. This was speedily shown by their tri- 
colored flags, in answer to our private signal. They 
consisted of seven sail of the line, under Rear-Admi- 
ral M , two frigates, and the same number of 

brigs, escaped from Brest. We were thrown into the 
utmost consternation, being not fit to fight, and una- 
ble to run, our sailing qualities being much impeded 
by the dirty statQ of the ship's bottom, contracted 
from her long stay on this station. 

" Make all sail, and keep your wind close on the 
larboard tack," cried the captain, who was keeping a 
wary eye on the frigates and brigs that were shaking 
out reefs and signalizing their admiral for leave to 
chase. Fortunately, he did not deem us worthy of 
notice, and passed, gun-shot and a half off, to wind- 
ward, when, hull down, we wore and made all sail 
for Jamaica, where we arrived in due time, giving the 
admiral intelligence of a force double his own on the 
station. The veteran anchored his flag-ship with 
springs, in the narrowed part of the channel, and made 
the best disposition of his small force to defeat any 
attack on Port Royal, at the same time placing me in 
a fine eighteen-gun sloop, just arrived from England, 
with orders to proceed to sea and reconnoitre the mo- 
tions of the French squadron. 



THE TWIN-SISTERS. 163 



THE TWIN-SISTERS. 

BY MRS. ABDY. 

My sister, I sit in the chestnut-trees' shade, 
Where often in childhood we frolicked and played, 
But my spirit is heavy, and burdened with gloom, 
I look through my tears at thy close-curtained room, 
The sounds of dark meaning yet ring in my ear, 
" Thy sister is drooping, her summons is near; " 
Yes, Death, that the strong and the mighty o'erpowers, 
Can even dissever a union like ours. 

Our lot was not common, our ties were above 
The usual connexion of sisterly love. 
Together we entered this region of care, 
Together we lisped our first infantine prayer ; 
As childhood advanced, in each study and aim. 
Our hopes, our pursuits, our delights were the same, 
And the thoughts of the one, although yet unexprest, 
Oft found a reply in the other's fond breast. 

No absence was suffered a chillness to bring 

O'er the radiance and joy of our girlhood's fresh spring. 

No rival emotions, no jealousies vain. 

Our fervent affection e'er came to profane ; 



164 THE TWIN-SISTERS, 

In person the stranger scarce knew us apart, 
But the stranger could trace not our likeness of heart, 
None, none but ourselves the sweet fulness divined 
Of our perfect communion of temper and mind. 

Oh ! how, when my sister is summoned away, 
Shall I pass the slow hours of the long-dreaded day ? 
The songs we have sung will seem tuneless to me, 
My walks will be sad, unpartaken by thee ; 
I shall miss thy kind smile when my pillow I leave, 
I shall miss thy soft voice in the silence of eve. 
Our parents their child may in patience resign. 
Their trial is surely less bitter than mine. 

Yet let me not thus the Almighty arraign. 

Who graciously gives me a balm for my pain, 

I feel, when our many dear ties I recall. 

That the service of God was the dearest of all ; 

Our way to his house on the Sabbath we took. 

Together we studied the truth of his book. 

And we owned when the paths of proud science we trod, 

That all knowledge was poor to the knowledge of God. 

Thy faith in thy last waning moments is shown. 

Nor dost thou, my sister, enjoy it alone ; 

Thy tender companion from life's early breath' 

May be not, alas ! thy companion in death. 

But her spirit with thine shall still fondly unite. 

And the glories of Heaven shall oft break on her sight, 

When her thoughts from earth's perils and sorrows arise 

To her dear twin-born sister who lives in the skies. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 165 



LONG, LONG AGO; OR THE SEA BEAR. 

A TALE OF THE SEA. 

On a bright winter's morning in the Christmas week 

of long, long ago, I joined his Majesty's ship at 

the mother-bank, collecting the West India convoy. 
She was then considered a crack frigate, commanded 
by a sea-bear, his dog, and his boatswain ; and many 
of my compatriots will recognise the distich of 

" Duffy, the boatswain, 
And Phillis, the dog, 

Rule the 

Under a hog." 

In doing so, that is, joming this fine frigate, I came 
in contact with two excellent young men, under the 
same circumstances as myself, viz. ordered a passage 
out to the Hercule, the commander-in-chief's flag- 
ship at Jamaica. We were all young lieutenants, 
with Spanish prize-money in view, and a chance of 
rapid promotion from pestilence and war. Short- 
sighted mortals — the dictionary now lying by the 
side of my desk was the gift of one of them, his 
name Edward Maitland, and a finer young man never 
graced the naval uniform. Possessed of education 
superior to the common run of naval officers, who 



166 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES.' 

are taken from school and thrown on the world much 
too young, (I entered the service at the age of eleven,) 
the mind was equal to the goodly form, and Maitland 
was universally a favorite. On our arrival at Jamai- 
ca, the admiral appointed him to an active sloop of 
war cruising on the north side of that island. She 
had anchored in one of the numerous inlets or bays. 
The night was calm and sultry, when my friend 
Maitland had charge of the middle watch. Induced, 
from excessive lassitude produced by a first acquaint- 
ance with this hot climate, this officer reclined on a 
carronade slide, dreaming of his home, its dear native 
bowers, and still more precious inmates, when a 
scuffie, the clashing of swords, and death-groans 
roused him. Disencumbering himself from his cloak, 
he called loudly to arms ; but ere the words had 
quitted his lips, the sabre of a pirate was deeply 
buried in his breast, and the youth threw his dying 
eyes over a deck deluged with blood, caused by the 
look-out men, like himself, being asleep. 

I can imagine, in some degree, the feelings of re- 
morse that smote him in his dying agonies, from 
something similar that befel myself, who, at the age 
of seventeen, was made third lieutenant of a frigate 
on the Egyptian expedition, and in that capacity had 
likewise charge of the middle watch. The frigate 
was standing out from the sandy coast of the Great 
Desert, with a top-gallant breeze, the night serene 
and dark, the heat intense. After hitting my shins 
several times against the carronades, the slide of 
one looked so inviting, that I sat down, but it was 
only to be a minute. Take care, said Caution ; life, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. ]67 

honor, and property are in yonr charge. Only for a 
minute, and the words were on my lips as I dropped 
into a deep sleep, too deep even to dream of the hap- 
py home of my childhood. The shrill and sharp 
whistle of a shot, and the violent flapping of the 
mizen staysail, through which it had passed, made 
me sufiiciently aware of the horrors of my situation, 
heightened by the cry of alarm from the look-out 
men, (who had followed their officer's example,) that 
a ship of war, on our weather quarter, was bearing 
up, (for the purpose of raking us,) and under our 
stern she passed, with her battle-lights fully display- 
ed, while a stout voice bellowed through a trumpet, 

"What ship is that?" 

The captain, undressed, was on deck in time to 
answer, " His Majesty's frigate El Carmen." 

" Who commands her? " responded the voice. 

"Captain William Selby, who is answering you." 

" This is his Majesty's ship Pique," said the com- 
modore, " and my private signals being unanswered 
for two hours, I took you for an enemy's frigate es- 
caped out of Alexandria. The last shot was directed 
at you, and I sincerely hope it has done no harm." 

"Nothing further than the loss of the mizen stay- 
sail," replied Captain Selby. 

" Very well ; thank God ! " said the commodore, 
" that I did not fire my broadside into your stern, as 
I was on the eve of doing. Captain Selby, put the 
ofiicer of your watch in close arrest, and report his 
name to me at daylight." 

" You have been asleep, sir," said the captain, 
looking daggers at me, who stood silent and aghast 



168 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

during this pithy dialogue, with feelings that could 
only be envied by the malefactor on the scaffold, who 
has the rope round his neck. '' The penalty of sleep- 
ing on your watch, young sir, is death," said the 
captain ; ''go down to your cabin ; and, sergeant, 
place a sentinel over the prisoner." 

Long were my cogitations, whether I should save 
them the trouble of hanging me, by jumping out of 
the gun-room port, that looked invitingly open for my 
egress ; but on mature deliberation, I wisely deter- 
mined to abide the pelting of the pitiless storm, 
throwing the onus on my superiors in wisdom as well 
as power. Although thirty-nine years have whitened 
my then auburn locks, I have a vivid recollection of 
my feelings, and can conceive those of my poor friend, 
Edward Maitland, as in his dying agonies he contem- 
plated the consequences of his carelessness. The 
sloop of war had been boarded by a piratical felucca 
out of Hispaniola, which, from the want of look-out, 
had taken her for a merchant ship, and meant, by the 
massacre of her crew, to make her a prize ; but find- 
ing their mistake, got away in the darkness of the 
night, leaving my poor friend, with many of the 
watch, dead on the deck. 

Poor Edward Maitland, this little book was once 
thine, and the view of it brings to my mind's eye 
your goodly form and open animated countenance, 
when stating your wishes and your prospects, bound- 
ed only by the union-jack at the main, for he had 
Scotch interest and great merit. Alas ! his commis- 
sion as a commander, and the news of his murder, 
reached Jamaica the same day. Peace to thy manes, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 169 

my gallant young friend, till that dread time when 
even the sharks that entombed thee must disgorge 
their prey. 

My other companion, to whom, as he is yet alive, 
like myself gray, and probably bald, from the num- 
ber that have stepped over his head, I shall give the 
name of Toms. He has lived, like me, to see the 
futility and folly of the sanguine anticipations of 
youth ; and, like me, to endure the proud man's con- 
tumely, with all that sears the heart and dries up its 
best emotions. But a truce to moralizing, brought on 
by the recollection of my friend, and to proceed wittj 
my tale of the Sea Bear. 

This man, in person and mind, bore greater affinity 
to the brute creation than the human species. His 
officers, nnable to digest the coarseness of his man- 
ners and language, had all deserted him save one ; 
and his first order delivered by the sergeant of ma- 
rines is no bad specimen of his courtesy. 

" Lieutenant Maitland, Toms, and , I am de- 
sired by the captain to tell you, that if you do not 
instantly repair to your stations, he will send marines 
to force you up." 

" Unbearable," escaped from the tongue of Mait- 
land ; "we will seek the brute on his own quarter- 
deck." And to it we repaired. 

'' Captain ," said my high-spirited friend, " the 

matter and delivery of the command we have just 
received, must proceed from the insolence of your 
sergeant, as it appears to us self-evident that neither 
an officer nor a gentleman would send such a mes- 
sage, by such an unusual messenger, to officers on 
15 



170 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

half-pay, ordered a passage, and who had not the 
shghtest intimation of your wish for their active ser- 
vices." 

To this the bear growled in gruff tones, " Mister, 
have you stationed these young men ? " 

*'No," said Mister, who had very lately joined in 
the capacity of first lieutenant, and a more gentle- 
manly officer never graced the situation. "No, sir; 
I could not think of doing so without your orders." 

" Then damn you, sir, I will show you your duty 
by performing it myself. Here, you Mister," growl- 
ed Bruin, not in the most dulcet tone, addressing his 
growl to me, "you, I suppose, would like to eat the 
bread of idleness ; your station is the forecastle, and 
yours the waist," looking at Maitland ; "and yours, 
Mr. Toms, the quarter-deck, you shall have charge of 

the watches; and, by ," irreverently using the 

name of the Most Highest, "if you do not do your 
duty, I will break your bread. Now, that is my an- 
swer to your insolent speech, young sir. My eye is 
on you." 

We were then unmooring, as the signal for sailing 
was flying on the flag-staff at Portsmouth. At this 
moment a fine manly boy, now high in rank, and an 
ornament to the service, made his bow to the bear, 
and announced his return on board. 

"Where is the doctor?" growled Bruin. 

" I found him confined to bed, sir, apparently very 
ill ; and his medical attendant assured me that re- 
moval, in his present state, would affect hi^life." 

" My order to you was to bring him on board, dead 
or alive, and I sent two files of marines to enforce it. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



171 



Sir, you have disobeyed that order, and your duty, 
henceforth, is in the foretop. Mr. Gliiillum, degrade 
that midshipman to the rank of landsman ; and, Mr. 
Duffy, keep a sharp eye on him." He then looked 
to the boatswain, who flourished his stick in token of 
approbation. 

The youth, who, till now, had stood respectfully 
uncovered, replaced his hat, while his eyes flashed 
angry defiance at the bear. 

So to sea we went for the pestilential climate of 
Barbadoes and Jamaica, without a medical man of 
any description on board, though our passengers con- 
sisted of a general officer and his staff, the major of 
whom whispered to me during the above scene, " I 
thank my God I am not in the navy." We had also 
a commissioner of seventy-five, with a wife of twen- 
ty-five, to whom the major paid great attention. 

Running through the Needles, with a convoy of 
more than a hundred sail, which we speedily dimin- 
ished to half-a-dozen, and finally arrived solus, we 
had not been long on the passage, when the crowded 
state of the main-deck, from the unusual quantity of 
two-year old heifers that Bruin was taking out on 
speculation, cramped the men in their pastimes ; and 
three of the finest beasts were found dead one morn- 
ing, having been choked by Guernsey frocks, well 
greased, during the night. The roaring of the bear 
was alarming to the lady commissioner, who declared 
that it would deprive her of appetite to look at meat 
not killed in the regular way ; for Bruin had ordered 
it to be cured and cooked for his own table. He was 
a miser, and a sordid one. 



172 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

"Captain," said the general, "you have a hand- 
some sum allowed for my passage, and it is painful 
to me to be obliged to hint, that we guardsmen are 
used to gentlemen's fare." 

"The beef is good," growled Bruin; "I eat of 
nothing else — other food shall be provided for you." 

" Then I trust it will appear on your table in an 
undisguised state." 

" It shall," growled Bruin. 

The officer of the forenoon watch invariably dines 
with the captain; and the day the above treaty was 
concluded I had that watch, being the only one of 
the three that could put up with the gross language 
of the bear. 

" Damn you, sir," said he to Toms, " you are tak- 
ing in that sail like a lubber." 

"I am entitled to respect as officer of the watch," 
said Toms ; "and I will not continue to do duty un- 
der such larjguage." 

" O, mutinous ! " growled the bear ; " consider 
yourself a prisoner, and allow no intercourse with 
him." To the officer of the guard — "He must 
swing, for this, at the fore-yard." 

My friend Maitland wisely got sick, and the sud- 
den change of climate had affected my health. 

" How do you feel yourself to-day ? " growled the 
bear, throwing open the cabin-door. " Let me see, 
are you fit for duty ? " And he went through the 
farce of feeling our pulses. " You are better ; I 
knew the draught and pills I sent you would effect a 
cure." Then it must have been on the fishes, 
thought I, if any could be so foolish as to swallow 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 173 

them ; as upon their receipt I consigned them to 
the deep, deep sea. "I will put you out of the sick- 
list to-morow ; those pills answer with every person 
but you," looking hard at Maitland, who, like myself, 
wished the fish to receive every benefit they could 
render. " I will try another system with your stub- 
born constitution." 

And the bear rolled off, accompanied by his dog 
Phillis, who, in appearance, was worthy of her mas- 
ter, the ugliest cur, snappish and cross-grained ; yet 
the beast had a hammock slung in the captain's cabin, 
and was most carefully put to bed at early hours. 

As the sight, alone, of those miraculous pills had 
cured me, I was struck out of the sick-list, and kept 
the forenoon watch on the day of the hollow truce 
established between the captain and general. 

''I will lay you a small bet, major," said I, as we 
paced the quarter-deck, " that the captain will not 
fulfil his part of the agreement ; and I will ascertain, 
when relieved at noon, the different compositions of 
his hospitable board." Accordingly I examined 
Quashie, the black cook, whose reply was, "A very 
good dinner, sare, very good ; there is a sea-pie." 

'^ What is it made of, duashie ? " 

" Fowls, mutton." 

'' What, no beef, duashie ? " 

" Yes, massa, plenty of beef, massa ; but I no 
peak." And Quashie laughed in his peculiar man- 
ner. 

I saw directly that the spirit of the treaty was vio- 
lated, and gave information to the major, who was 
very indignant. 

15* 



174 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

This occasioned an angry remonstrance, and the 
early breaking up of our dinner-party. The captain, 
by a conference with his steward, having understood 
my share in the disclosure of his ingenious mode of 
feeding his guests, ordered a reef to be taken in the 
topsails. " I will show you how to perform that duty, 
Mister, as I wish it done, said he to the first luf. '' Mr, 
Daffy, all hands reef topsails." He, after a shrill whis- 
tle repeated, "All hands reef topsails, a-hoy ; tumble 
up there, fore and aft." And the topmen placed them- 
selves in the rigging. ''Away aloft." And up they 
flew. " Let go of the bow-lines and lower away the 
topsails — why don't you let go the foretopsail haul- 
yards forward ?" 

"They are gone, sir," said I. 

" They are not gone," roared he, " or else your 
hfts are foul in the chains." 

" All clear, sir ; all gone," replied I, respectfully ; 
" the weather-brace wants rounding in to spill the 
sail." 

" I say you lie, sir," roared the bear, and he ap- 
proached me foaming at the month with passion, and 
flourished his trumpet as with an intention of striking 
me down. 

With folded arms, to indicate that I made no resis- 
tance, I pointed out everything clear ; but stamping 
on the deck, he ordered a cabin to be fitted for me on 
the main-deck, there to remain a close prisoner under 
the charge of a sentinel. 

Upon this order I made no comment, but walked 
directly to the gun-room, where the marine officer, 
now high in rank and an ornament to his profession, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 175 

soon came to express his regret that he was compelled 
to enforce the captain's orders, which were, to place 
me in close confinement between two guns on the 
main-deck. To this arbitrary and unusual proceed- 
ing I expressed my dissent in strong terms, declaring 
that nothing but physical force (to which I would 
oppose all the resistance in my power) should induce 
me to quit the gun-room, to which my situation as 
lieutenant of the Hercule entitled me under an Admi- 
ralty order, for a passage. The high rank of his 
passengers, and their unfavorable disposition towards 
him, who had styled the general a glutton and the 
commissioner an old fool, was a check on the brute's 
further proceedings, and I carried my point of associ- 
ating with my messmates. 

The frigate had many supernumerary midshipmen, 
and the fate of one of them was so peculiarly trag- 
ic, that I trust my readers' patience will follow me 
through the detail of what happened " Long, long 
ago." This young gentleman had come out on the 
prospect of being provided for by the yellow fever (a 
strong auxiliary of the Admiralty in silencing impor- 
tunate claimants,) or promotion. He got the latter 
by hard service and good conduct, and was appointed 
to command the Hercule's tender, a schooner that 
carried more sail than ballast. One morning, at the 
east end of Jamaica, she was surprised by that curi- 
ous phenomenon, a water-spout, that threw her com- 
pletely over, and the schooner disappeared, leaving 
the commander, eight men, and her boat, that fortu- 
nately had not been lashed, floating on a calm unruf- 
fled sea. The commotion occasioned by the whirl- 



176 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

wind having subsided — " Right the boat, men, 
quickly, for your lives ; the sharks, the horrid sharks 
will be upon us." 

The boat was floating bottom upwards, and eager 
hands and shoulders succeeded in righting her, bnt in 
such a hurried way as to be nearly full of water, and 
in consequence very tender, (that is, easily upset.) 
The lightest and most active lad was now ordered by 
the commander to get into the boat, and commence 
baling with his cap, the only thing available among 
these unfortunates, he having raised him with one 
hand for the purpose ; the youth, with convulsive 
shuddering, uttering the dreadful word, " Shark, 
shark ! " fell down on the gunwale, and again the 
boat turned bottom upwards. The splash and des- 
perate efforts of the crew, for they worked as des- 
pairing men of strong sinews will work to escape 
the dreadful fate so closely impending, in some meas- 
ure scared and altered the direct attack of the mon- 
ster, who swerved, and swept in circles round the 
hapless beings, showing his hateful fin high above the 
troubled waters, — before so placid. '' Shout loudly, 
men," cried the officer, '' and bale away lad, without 
looking at the shark," (who kept narrowing his cir- 
cles, as he swiftly passed around them.) "God is 
able to deliver us, even in this great extremity ; avoid 
getting into the boat until she is more buoyant, but 
splash the water about with all the noise you can 
make." 

A violent rush, a terrific scream of agony, and the 
disappearance of one of the stout seamen, followed 
by a crimson tinge on the waters, attested the voraci- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 177 

ty of this scourge of the sea. '' He will gorge him- 
self on poor Tom," said the commander, inexpressi- 
bly shocked, "and we are freed, if the blood," (here he 
checked his disclosure, for he well knew that the scent 
of blood would draw myriads around them.) "Lift 
Jack carefully in too ; bale with your hands, Jack, — 
quickly, quickly ; for I see their dreadful fins appear- 
ing all around, — oh ! God of mercy, shield us." 

Another rush, and piercing shrieks curdled their 
blood, as the fish with difficulty drew an herculean, 
well-formed man beneath the surface. All was now 
wild commotion ; caution and order had given place 
to paralyzing fear, and each man grasped madly at 
the boat ; but providentially for those in her, the rav- 
enous monsters carried off in their jaws every floating 
man, before he could upset the boat, in his mad 
efforts to save himself from the horrible death in 
view. The violent struggle of the monsters for their 
prey, when two of them seized the same person ; the 
imprecations and ofttimes prayers of those in the boat, 
which floated in a sea of blood, as they attempted, 
by stretching their hands, to save their sinking ship- 
mates, who, with starting eyeballs and wild gestures, 
cried to them for succor ; — the scene is too dreadful 
further to contemplate, or fully attempt to portray ; 
the dread reality is often endured by those " who go 
down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business 
in great waters." 

The wretched youth in command was, by the ex- 
ertions of the lads in the boat, extricated from the 
jaws of two ravenous monsters, each of whom had 
seized and carried off a leg, and the bleeding trunk 



178 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



of the youth was hauled into the boat, to undergo a 
more languishing death from loss of blood. The 
poor boysj nearly dead with fear and apprehension, 
did their best to stop the bleeding by passing some 
rope-yarns round the stumps, which were greatly 
shattered and jagged by the teeth of the monsters, 
who had apparently splintered the thigh-bone up to 
the hips. Heavy groans attested the sufferings of the 
hapless youth, but they got fainter and fainter, as he 
extended his hand towards the island with an implor- 
ing look of anguish, till welcome death relieved him 
from his intolerable misery. 

The death of their commander, under such shock- 
ing circumstances, left the youths (for they were but 
striplings) in comparative quietude. With heads 
bowed upon their knees, and hearts paralyzed with 
fear, and nearly broken from the distressing scenes 
they had witnessed, afraid to look each other in the 
face, where ghastly despair sat enthroned, they shud- 
dered at every shock the boat sustained from the 
ravenous fish jostling and crossing her in all direc- 
tions, being attracted by the taint of blood issuing 
from the ill-fated commander. "The devils will be 
in the boat or upset her, if we do not throw the body 
to them ; lend me a hand, Tom," and overboard went 
the useless trunk of a formerly good-looking youth, 
but a fefw hours since loving and beloved. Most true, 
that ''in the midst of life we are in death." The dis- 
appearance of a host of fins, diving for the body, gave 
breathing-time to the lads, who threw a despairing 
gaze on the wide and open sea ; the loom of the blue 
mountains, seen in the distance, alone soothed their 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 179 

inquietude ; but they were devoid of any means of 
reaching it ; no oars, no sails, and the worst of all the 
negatives, no fresh water. But they dipped their 
upper garments alongside, and placed them on their 
fevered bodies, by which they absorbed moisture suf- 
ficient to keep them from maddening with thirst. 
One of our numerous cruisers fortunately took them 
on board, — more fortunate than the Goalong's gig, 
who, with the captain and crew, have never yet been 
heard of, though it happened long, long ago. 

This is a long digression from the subject of my 
friend Bruin, whose acts are chronicled in the West 
India memories of that period. We reached Barba- 
does at so sickly a time, that not a medical man 
could be procured, though a frigate lay in the bay ; 
but she had buried the captain and two lieutenants 
out of the three, while we, without any person save 
the captain, (whose physic nobody but the fish took.) 
in the shape of a doctor, were perfectly healthy, and 
lost not a man until we reached Port Royal, when 
we recruited our medical staff, and the yellow fever 
followed, making great ravages among the youthful 
part of our community. One of its victims I much 
lamented, the handmaiden of the old commissioner's 
young wife. To think that the land-crabs should 
feast on that beautiful form, and deface that cheek 
that rivalled the peach in bloom ; in fact, she was 
one of those roses so common to English peasantry. 
Animated with delight at the prospect of seeing the 
world, she left her cottage and happy home to feed 
the most frightful vermin that infest the palisades of 
Port Royal, useful in acting as scavengers to the 



180 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

burying-ground, so denominated. In the words of 
Mrs. Hemans I address her sorrowing mother : — 

"But there is a world that knows no blight, 
You will find her there with her eyes of light, 
When ye go where the loved who have left ye dwell, 
This flower is not death's ; fare ye well, fare ye well." 

When the high lands of that beautiful island, Ja- 
maica, called the Blue Mountains, showed their heads 
above the deep blue sea. Bruin assembled all the mu- 
tinous, seditious, and contumacious officers he had 
carried out under arrest, with the now post-captain, 
(then acting as foretopman of the frigate,) and ad- 
dressed them as follows: — "Gentlemen, some of 
you I could hang, and the others I could break their 
bread ; but you are all young, and my disposition is 
merciful ; (no person was before aware of it ;) I shall 
say nothing further of your faulty conduct ; you are 

at liberty. And, Mr. Q,uillum, restore Mr. to 

his grade as midshipman. You will resume your sta- 
tion on the quarter-deck, sir, and strictly obey your 
orders in future." 

Thus amicably concluded my service with the 
Bear, his dog, and his boatswain. The only officer 
who stuck by the frigate was a young lieutenant, 
who had great interest as a relative of Mr. Pitt's, then 
prime minister, and consequently every reason to ex- 
pect rapid promotion in that unhealthy clime. He 
was sociable, good-natured, and talented, giving indi- 
cations of a master-mind, but the resistless fever 
bowed his lofty head, and he was carried to the pali- 
sades, making use of the language recognised there, 
" as a gemman, and not like kaley beggar." It costs 
about one hundred pounds to merit that eulogium. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 181 

On appearing before the commander-in-chief, who 
had worked his way upward, by dint of hard service 
and good conduct, to his present high station, he 
seemed at a loss what to do with so many supernu- 
merary officers as his Majesty's frigate poured upon 
him, and all appointed to his flag-ship. ''You must 
remain on board the frigate, for the present," said the 
admiral, '' till I can see in what manner I can best 
place you for the advantage of the service. In you 
I recognise one of my youngsters in the Barfleur and 
Foudroyant." 

The veteran had been my captain in those ships 
from the early part of the year 1 795, and a kind- 
hearted, worthy man I found him ; he had struggled 
through a long life of difficulty, made an excellent 
fortune during the Spanish war, got thrown from his 
horse, lingered and died ; but previous to this finale 
he appointed me first lieutenant of the old sloop, 
commanded by the young captain, now a flag-officer 
of very high repute, and most deservedly a knight 
commander of the Bath. Having battered both hat 
and head until I had learnt to practise a stooping po- 
sition, so necessary to the accommodation aff*orded by 
this old sloop, and endeavored to be on peaceable 
terms with the scorpions, centipedes, and cockroaches 
that infested her, I substituted a jean jacket for my 
coat, and took my station, as appointed, in the gun- 
room, at dinner, with a most facetious, pleasant fellow 
for a doctor, in addition to the messmates formerly 
commemorated in scenes in the West Indies. " As 
you are a Johnny Newcome," said the doctor, after 
the toast of " a bloody war and a sickly season " had 
16 



182 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

been duly honored, with some interesting informa- 
tion relative to the dead, the dying, and the conva- 
lescent, " I conjecture you have not heard the story of 
the pig." 

'' I have not yet had that pleasure." replied I. 

*' Good," said he, rapping the table as a call of at- 
tention. " Silence, gentlemen, while I enlighten the 
obtuse intellects of this greenhorn. Once upon a 
time, and that at not a very remote period, our dear 
country, young gentlemen, possessed an admiral fa- 
mous in story, and standing high as a valiant and 
fortunate officer, much renowned in arms ; but as 
nothing human is perfect, this admiral possessed an 
alloy, like a spot in the sun, that sullied his bright- 
ness ; he was very covetous, (an anti-seaman-like 
vice,) and, for the sake of filthy lucre, carried a num- 
ber more pigs than were required for his own table, 
to fatten on his Majesty's pea-soup, served out at the 
hour of noon in his Majesty's ships. The ship bear- 
ing his flag was cruising not a hundred miles distant 
of the latitude and longitude we are now in, and 
with topgallant sails, courses, and gib, was, on a 
beautiful day, standing in-shore with the squadron he 
commanded. All at once this far-famed officer ap- 
peared on the quarter-deck, agitated, and without his 
hat. 

" ' Shorten sail, and heave-to, sir,' commanded he 
in peremptory tones j 'lower down a boat, and save 
the pig. I am astonished at your want of look-out, 
and your want of humanity in leaving the poor pig 
to be gobbled up by the sharks. Be handy with the 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 183 

'' ' Ay, ay, sir ! ' said the officer. 

'' ' Watch and idlers, shorten sail, pipe the yellow 
cutters away there.' 

'^ In the midst of the bustle thus created, the ad- 
miral's steward whispered his master, • The pig, sir, is 
not yours, but belongs to the wardroom.' 

" ' Are you quite sure ? ' 

" ' I am, and have just counted yours.' 

" ' Fill the maintopsail again, and make sail, — 
keep fast the boat. Poor piggy, you must die,' throw- 
ing on the pig a glance of great commiseration. 

" The admiral had a character for humanity and 
kindness of heart, and appeared much shocked as. he 
saw a shark about four yards long make a narrow cir- 
cle around the animal, who showed wonderful instinct 
and terror of his dread foe, and made a clean leap out 
of the water. As the monster darted upon him, the 
snap of his teeth was heard as he closed his ponder- 
ous jaws on the hind quarters of poor piggy, leaving 
the water much discolored, and the death shriek, 
or squeak of agony, ringing in the admiral's ears." 

''Capitally told, doctor. Gentlemen, I propose the 
doctor's health in a bumper, with three times three," 
said my commercial messmate, the purser, who had 
not then purchased the tight fit I hereafter obliged 
him with. 

" Johnny Newcome, my boy," called the doctor the 
following morning, " mark that officer pulling sea- 
ward." 

" 1 do. A stout, gentlemanly, good-looking, young 
and healthy man." 

'' The land-crabs will eat him in less than a month. 



184 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Mark my words, he is a man of great interest, sent 
out to be the first promoted, and fortified against the 
climate by the sage advice of the cleverest doctors in 
London, and owing to that he is drinking his spruce, 
and inhahng the sea-breeze. To prevent the yellow 
fever is constantly on his mind, and gives a predispo- 
sition to take it. He will only require six feet on 
the palisades in half that number of weeks." 

The doctor was perfectly right, and his prediction 
was fulfilled with unerring accuracy. 

TOM ALLEN. 

Death has lately swept from Greenwich hospital 
the above-named Tom Allen, celebrated by Captain 
Chamier under the title of '• Ben Brace," the last of 
the Agamemnons. He was the faithful body servant 
of the great Lord Nelson when I was his signal mid- 
shipman in the Foudroyant, selected from the waist 
of the Agamemnon by Lord Nelson, for some daring 
deed, and constituted his valet or gentleman out of 
livery. Clumsy, ill-formed, illiterate, and vulgar, his 
very appearance created laughter at the situation he 
held ; but his affectionate, bold heart made up for all 
deficiencies ; and, next to Lady Hamilton, Tom Al- 
len possessed the greatest influence with his heroic 
.master. 

"You (or as he in his Norfolk dialect pronounced 
it yow) are to dine with my lord to-day," said he to 
me, on the anniversary of the fourteenth of February. 

'' I cannot, Tom, for I have no clean shirt ; and we 
have been so long cruising off Malta, that my mess- 
mates are in the same plight." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 185 

'' But yow must, for my lord insists on meeting all 
those that were at the battle of St. Vincent at dinner 
this day." 

''Make the best excuse you can for me, Tom, for I 
really cannot go." 

Away waddled Tom, very much like a heavy-laden 
ship rolling before the wind, and the best excuse the 
simplicity of his mind suggested was the truth. 

" Muster so-and-so has no clean shirt, and he coon't 
dine with you to-day." 

" What ship was he in, Tom ? " 

" The Barfleur." 

" Then tell him to appear in my cabin in the one 
he has now on, and he may send the first clean one 
that comes into his possession for me to look at." 

Thus saying, the admiral resumed his pace, con- 
versing with Captain Hardy on the possibility of at- 
tacking the French fleet of twice our force, then ly- 
ing in Yardo Bay. 

" If the Portuguese were but English," — (Lord 
Nelson here alluded to the Marquis de Neiza's squad- 
ron, six sail of the line, acting with our fleet,) — "if 
they were but English, Hardy, we would beat them 
like stock-fish. As it is, I long to be at them, for I 
do not feel easy in cruising ofl" Marittimo with twelve 
fine ships of the line, (not counting our friend the 
marquis's squadron, who is good for something,) while 
thirty of them brave us in Vardo Bay. What say 
you, Hardy ? shall we have at them, sink or swim ? 
We ensure a monument in Westminster Abbey." 
And frequently the gallant admiral has been heard to 
exclaim, while pacing the deck occupied by his own 
16* 



186 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

reflections, and in imagination fighting the battle in 
Yardo Bay, " Now for a monument in Westminster 
Abbey." 

We were cruising off Marittimo with a combined 
squadron of eighteeu sail-of-the-line for the defence 
of Sicily, menaced by a French fleet with troops ly- 
ing in Vardo Bay near Genoa, and Lord Nelson would 
have sunk, with all his gallant fleet, before they 
could have efl'ected a landing. His gratitude to the 
Neapolitan court was enthusiastic and unbounded, 
and he held life in light estimation compared with 
their welfare. Indeed, their munificent gifts, their 
admiration, I can almost say adoration of our Norfolk 
hero, whose ship in their ports was always surround- 
ed by their boats filled with Italians, while bands of 
music thundered forth, " See the conquering hero 
comes," and when he showed himself, shouts of ap- 
plause rent the sky. In fact, their anxiety was of 
the same engrossing nature as the people of the West 
to behold Bonaparte in Plymouth Sound ; and he 
must have been more or less than human not to have 
felt elated at such demonstrations of affection. 

" They never. Hardy, while I live, shall pollute 
the soil of Sicily with their hateful presence," said 
the Duke of Bronte and Nelson, as he quitted the 
deck to adorn himself with all his hard-won honors, 
which were to decorate his diminutive person on this 
gala day. 

At last the sound of the roast-beef of Old England 
struck on my hearing and gladdened my heart, for I 
had shied my breakfast, (not very inviting by-the- 
bye,) and shook the reefs out of my waistcoat to do 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 187 

honor to the noble lord's fare, who, with a fascinating 
smile, beckoned me, as being the yonngest, to sit on 
his right hand, or where the right hand should have 
been, if it had not been forcibly carried from its post 
by the Frenchman's ball. During the clatter of 
knives, (for from their appetites most of the compa- 
ny, which was numerous, seemed to have imitated 
my example at the early meal of breakfast,) Tom 
Allen's voice, (which was far from musical, and rath- 
er forte than piano,) addressed the captain of a dash- 
ing frigate, noted for not thinking small beer of him- 
self. 

" Captain Coffield, may I be so bold as to axe how 
Tom Smith is?" 

Tom Smith was a foretopman of the dashing frig- 
ate which had joined us that day from a cruise. 
Captain Coffield dropped his knife and fork, and rais- 
ed his eye-glass with a stare of astonishment at hon- 
est Tom, who, nothing daunted, repeated the ques- 
tion. Lord Nelson's indignation now found vent in 
words. 

" Gluit the cabin, Thomas Allen, — I really must 
get rid of that impudent lubber. I have often 
threatened, but somehow he contrives to defeat my 
firm intentions, — he is faithful, honest, and attached, 
with great shrewdness mixed with his simplicity, 
which is unbounded. He lost his stern frame in the 
action we are assembled to commemorate, nursed me 
tenderly at Santa Cruiz, and is a townsman. I men- 
tion these things, Captain Coffield, in palliation of his 
freedom, and shall be glad to take wine with you." 

The captain lowered his eye-glass, and raised his 



188 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

wine-glass, while he bowed to the sunny smile that 
ofttimes irradiated the melancholy and rather homely 
visage of Lord Nelson. Daring the foregoing scene 
I had persevered with great steadiness in my desper- 
ate attack on the savory viands of the admiral's hos- 
pitable board; and he most probably thinking a lit- 
tle liquid desirable for me, pushed towards me what 
he jocosely termed his own bottle, — that is, it con- 
tained Bronte made from his own estate, — and re- 
quested me to take wine with him. Drawing my 
breath with greater freedom than I had for the previ- 
ous half hour done, I ventured to look ojff my plate, 
and beheld the good-natured smile I have before de- 
scribed, and received the bow of the hero of a hun- 
dred battles, decorated in all the brilliancy of stars 
and garters. This was an epoch in my life, and I 
treasure the remembrance. 

The cloth had disappeared, the chaplain had re- 
turned thanks, in which I cordially joined, for I really 
felt grateful for the best blow-out I had enjoyed for 
months. Though his lordship ate sparingly of the 
simplest fare, the splendid table he kept would have 
afforded gratification to the most fastidious gourmand, 
and at that period of my life I looked to quantity 
more than quality ; so much so, that an eminent offi- 
cer, now high in rank, desired his steward, whenever 
he was honored by my company, to dress an addi- 
tional joint. His lordship, after taking a bumper in 
honor of the glorious victory of the year ninety- 
seven, addressed me in a bland tone. 

"You entered the service at a very early age to 
have been in the action off St. Vincent ? " 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 189 

''Eleven years, my lord." 

" Much too young," muttered his lordship. 

At this rnoment honest Tom Allen pushed in his 
bullet head with an eager gaze at his master, and 
after a little consideration approached the admiral. 

" Yow will be ill if you takes any more wine." 

"You are perfectly right, Tom, and I thank you 
for the hint. Hardy, do the honors. And, gentle- 
men, excuse me for retiring, for my battered old hulk 
is very crazy, — indeed not seaworthy." 

And the greatest naval hero of the day was led 
from his own table by his faithful and attached ser- 
vant, after drinking five glasses of wine. 

Upon the death of that hero, this excellent man 
drained the bitter cup of poverty to its very dregs, 
and would have been consigned to Burnhamthorpe 
workhouse bv his grateful country, had not a worthy 
philanthropisu with whose friendship I am honored) 
rescued him from such degradation by bringing his 
hard case to the knowledge of that great and good 
man, the late Sir Thomas Hardy, who made him 
pewterer of Greenwich Hospital, from which com- 
fortable situation death removed him in a very sum- 
mary manner, leaving his old dame a burthen on the 
finances of my most humane and excellent friend, 
who had formerly preserved them from the cold com- 
forts of a workhouse. The Father of all will reward 
him. 

A scene which displays the almost infantine sim- 
plicity of Tom Allen's mind, occurs now to mine, 
nor am I aware, without looking over my Nelsonians, 
if I have before related it. When the king of Naples 



190 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

of that day joined his Majesty's ship Foiidroyant in 
his own Bay of Naples, being afraid to land in his 
own capital, which was convulsed and torn to pieces 
by political rancor, and saturated with blood by those 
hell-honnds that disgrace the human form, and were 
embodied under the Lord Primate, Cardinal Ruffo, 
by the derisive title of the Christian Army, — when 
he stepped from his own frigate on our quarter-deck. 
Lord Nelson, with the officers of seventeen British 
ships of the line, were assembled in full fig to receive 
him ; we were likewise crowded with ambassadors 
and ambassadresses, generals, princes, and potentates. 
The king was a good-looking man, of middle age and 
healthy appearance, and with great good-nature gave 
his hand to be kissed by any person who fancied such 
absurd custom an honor. Among the rest our wor- 
thy Tom Allen received it with the unmeaning Eng- 
lish salutation, of "How do you do, Mishster Alle i^'^ 
delivered in jargon between Italian and English. 
Mishster Allen, as the king called him, gave the said 
hand a squeeze that appeared to me to convey to its 
royal owner anything but pleasure, with a truly Nor- 
folk shake, that I thought likely to eff"ect a dislocation 
of that useful member from the shoulder, and a 
coarse growl of " I hope you are well, Muster King? 
How do you do. Muster King? " This Norfolk mode 
of salutation created astonishment in the king and 
courtiers, anger in Lord Nelson, and great mirth in 
Lady Hamilton and her fair coterie^ who, approaching, 
honest Tom, tried to persuade him to kneel down 
and ask permission to kiss his Majesty's hand ; but 
Tom grufily declared he never bent his knee but in 
prayer, and- he feared that \^as top seldom. ^« 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 191 

When under fire from the forts of Valette, which 
hulled the ship, and knocked away our foretopmast, 
this faithful servant interposed his bulky form between 
those forts and his little master, who was in a tower- 
ing rage with his nephew, Sir William Bottom, for 
allowing her to drift into such a dangerous position. 
This affectionate domestic watched his lordship with 
unceasing attention, and many times have I seen him 
persuade the admiral to retire from a wet deck or a 
stormy sea, to his bed. In fact, he like Lady Hamil- 
ton, upon the death of the heroic Nelson, was con- 
signed to oblivion and miserable poverty. 

" Behold him stalk along the pier, 
Pale, meagre, and dejected, 
View him begging for relief, 
And see him disregarded ; 
Then view the anguish in his eye, — 
And say our Tar 's rewarded." 

Peace to the manes of honest Tom Allen ! 

" For though his body 's under hatches, 
His soul is gone aloft." 

Old songs by Dibdin, who is likewise passing his 
age in miserable poverty. 



192 THE LAST OF THE DREADNOUGHTS. 



THE LAST OF THE DREADNOUGHTS. 

BY THE AUTHOR OF " THE FATALIST." 

Small was the cot, and trees shut out the sky, 
Where the old seaman laid him down to die. 
Scarred, reft of limbs, that patriarch of the wave 
Must sink at last into a bloodless grave ; 
Yet still his heart life's ruling passion warms. 
He talks of naught but deadly fights and storms ; 
And still he cries, — "I cannot hear or see 
My ocean-home, — O bear me to the sea ! " 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 193 



BILLY CULVER. 



This most eccentric being prided himself on being 
the oldest midshipman in the royal navy, which he 
thought preferable, by great odds, to the youngest 
lieutenant. He was well connected, and a nephew 
of Lord Hood's, who once undertook the liquidation 
of his debts. 

"I am amazed, Mr, Culver, really lost in astonish- 
ment, at the extreme length" — unfolding a bill 
equal to the proctor's displayed by Lord Cochrane in 
the House of Commons — "and at the items of this 
extraordinary bill ; to grog, one shilling ; to ditto, 
ditto, ditto : there seems nothing but suction ; not a 
meal mentioned." 

'' Why, my lord, some people like eating, and often 
kill themselves by gluttony ; I prefer drinking, and 
avoid such a catastrophe." Lord Hood smiled, and 
paid the bill. 

Daring his lordship's presiding over the Admiralty, 
Mr. Culver made his appearance, in obedience to an 
order of their lordships issued a calendar month back. 

"Before Sir Evan Nepean can see you, sir, he de- 
sires to know, through me, why you have so long 
delayed complying with their lordships' order? " 

This interrogatory from the Admiralty messenger 
threw a thoughtful shade over Billy's open brow ; 
and, after a slight consideration, he replied: " I got 
under weigh the very instant I could command a 
clean shirt to appear before their lordships in, and 
cruised in a lubberly leathern convenience, drawn by 
four half-starved horses. I kept the quarter-deck, 
17 



194 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

with a good look-out ahead, and at times conn'd the 
consarii, by desiring coachee to starboard, or port, as 
occasion required. At the half-way house he short- 
ened sail, and hove to, and ordered a glass of grog ; 
this made me call for two, or perhaps three, and I 
remained in the same house till the day previous to 
yesterday ; when, finding the tide ebbing fast out of 
my money-locker, at nearly low water I again got 
under weigh, and made all the sail I could carry for 
the Admiralty, and here I am." 

"You are a rum one," said the messenger, "but 
a shorter yarn must be given to Sir Evan." 

"Why, then, if it must be concise, say I was 
drunk." 

" If I do, your commission as lieutenant will be 
cancelled. Be advised by me, and say you were 
taken very ill on the road ; and we must cook up a 
sick certificate." 

" What ? " said Billy, looking sternly at him ; " tell 
a lie, a cowardly lie, at my time of life ? Look you, 
sir ! as man or boy, I never wilfully told a lie, and 
at the age of fifty it is too late to begin. Tell him 
I was drunk." And Billy returned to the Royal 
William at Spithead, still the oldest midshipman in 
his Majesty's fleet. 

On my alighting from the heavy coach, early in 
the year 1795, at the India Arms, Gosport, the first 
person who noticed me was this most eccentric mid- 
shipman ; he was seated on a low settle, by the large 
kitchen fire of that respectable house, with an outside 
rummer of darkish liquor. 

" What cheer, young squeaker? and what ship are 
you bound for ? " 



^ NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 195 

''The Barfleur, sir." 

" Do you like grog ? " 

"I don't know, sir; for I never tasted it." 

'' Here, then," said he, kindly getting off the settle, 
and putting it to my lips ; " take a swig, and let me 
know if it is stiff enough. Old Mother does not 
make good nor-westers this month, the last score not 
being paid up." 

All of this was lost on my comprehension, and the 
only thing I understood was, that I must give an 
opinion on its merits, and accordingly swallowed 
some with great difficulty, for to me it was nauseous. 

Billy contemplated my wry faces and aversion 
with astonishment and indignation ; " You must alter 
very materially to make a sailor, young squeaker." 
And he resumed his seat on the settle, where I am 
told a gentleman once left him basting a roasting 
goose, with a glass of grog beside him ; made a 
voyage to the East Indies, came back, and found 
Billy in the same place, employed in the same 
manner. 

Billy Culver, to the best of my recollection, was 
a short, thick-set man, with rotundity of body, and 
a red, well-pimpled, or grog-blossom face ; and long, 
long ago, might invariably have been found on the 
settle by the kitchen fire of the India Arms, Gosport, 
busily employed in superintending bird or beast, re- 
volving on the oldfashioned spit ; and if it required 
basting, Billy was nothing averse to perform that 
part of the culinary duty. . 

A greenhorn of a lieutenant, who had recently 
been entered for provisions on board the Royal Wil- 



196 NELSONIAN RE3IINISCENCES. 

liam, as supernumerary waiting for a passage to the 
West Indies, at one P. M. disagreeably surprised 
Billy in his usual avocation of basting a fine goose. 
As the day was warm, Billy sat without his coat, 
his shirt-sleeves tucked up, and an oversized ladle 
in his hands. 

" Mr. Culver, I presume," said Greenhorn. 

'•I am called Billy Culver," said our friend, re- 
moving the little three-cornered hat from his capa- 
cious cocoa-nut. 

"I am extremely sorry to announce to you, Mr. 
Culver — " 

''Billy, if you please, sir." 

" Well, then, if it will soften the unpleasant in- 
formation, Mr. William Culver — " 

'' I answer to no other name but Billy Culver," 
replied our old friend ; '' but I see you are heated, 
sir ; try a swig out of my rummer ; " and he pre- 
sented his large glass, with the reddish liquor, to the 
young officer, who thankfully drank till Billy called, 
" Belay there ; " and the officer, after drawing breath, 
in a courteous manner said, 

'• It is my unpleasant duty to arrest you, as absent 
without leave, and convey you, as a prisoner, on 
board the Royal William guardship." 

" This is very mal-a-propos, as I was to dine with 
some friends on the fine bird before you ; but I will 
put on my coat and attend you to old Grimsby, who 
is very harsh, as I am only a few days over my leave 
of absence granted by him. May I beg the favor of 
you not to let it burn till I can send the cook in ? " 
So saying, Billy slipped on his coat, and slipped out 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 197 

of the back-door, and very soon reported himself as 
come on board to first lieutenant Grimsby. 

" Mr. Culver, you have overstaid your time three 
days, and 1 have sent Lieutenant Greenhorn to bring 
you off under an arrest ; have you seen him ? " 

'' Dear me, how strange ! " said Billy, endeavoring 
to look very innocent ; " after taking our nooner to- 
gether, (by this he meant a glass of grog, a bad 
custom in vogue among seamen, even in these days 
of refinement and reform,) I left him in full uniform, 
basting a goose roasting by the kitchen fire of the 
India Arms, Gosport ; and, if you will please to allow 
me to fulfil an indispensable engagement this day, 
I will, on my passage, make known to him your 
commands." 

'' Send him off instantly, sir ; such conduct is par- 
ticularly unbecoming in an officer or a gentleman." 

And our acquaintance, Lieutenant Greenhorn, was 
ever after facetiously termed Goose Gibbey. I be- 
lieve Billy's objections to being the youngest lieuten- 
ant were in course of time conquered, and that he 
died in a rank I never expect to obtain, that of post 
captain. 

SIR SIDNEY SMITH. 

This chivalrous Knight of the Sword has been 

removed, I trust, to a better world. I remember him 

well, and have him in ''my mind's eye," as he 

stepped on the quarter-deck of H. M. frigate '' Ell 

Carmen," lying in Aboukir Bay, Egypt, in the latter 

part of the year 180L He was then of middling 

stature, good-looking, with tremendous moustachios, 
17* 



198 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

a pair of penetrating black eyes, an intelligent coun- 
tenance, with a gentlemanly air, expressive of good 
nature and kindness of heart. 

" Captain Selby," said the hero of Acre, '' if you 
will do me the honor to be guided by my advice, 
we will make a passage that shall astonish the 
world." 

For we were ordered to England, to announce our 
success over the French afmy in Egypt, which, by 
convention, were to be sent as prisoners of war to 
Toulon. And Captain Selby did follow Sir Sidney's 
advice, and did astonish the world, but it was by the 
length of time we took to accomplish the passage. 
A sloop of war, which sailed a fortnight after us 
with duplicates, arrived exactly that time before us ; 
by which contretemps Captain Selby lost knighthood 
and five hundred pounds, the usual reward of bearing 
such news as we were freighted with. 

" It is not the lot of mortals to command success," 
said Addison ; but we did more in " Ell Carmen," — 
we endeavored to deserve it ; for, by the advice of 
Sir Sidney, we hugged the Barbary coast close, in 
hopes of receiving the land-wind at night. Alas ! 
every thing turned out the reverse of our expecta- 
tions ; the land-wind disdained to fill our sails, but 
the lee-wind blew hard upon us, and nearly wrecked 
the old tub off Cape Dern. She was a Spanish 
frigate, captured and brought into the service in the 
late war with that afflicted nation, the fairest portion 
of the globe, so long a prey to intestine divisions 
and external war. Their conduct to the aboriginal 
inhabitants of the southern continent of America has 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 199 

surely drawn down the vengeance of a God of justice 
for their nefarious and blood-thirsty treatment of a 
mild race of inoffensive people, whose last heroic 
chief, stretched by these hell-hounds on live coals, 
his patient suffering under torture, his magnanimous 
saying to his fellow-sufferer, ere his tongue, with 
swelled, fervid heat, refused its power of utterance, 
"Am I, then, on a bed of roses?" Who can con- 
template these diabolical deeds, and wonder that they 
are so afflicted ? '' Vengeance is mine, and I will 
repay, saith the Lord;" and behold, in them His 
words are fearfully fulfilled. Look at this once far- 
famed nation, not long back the first in rank and 
power, when the gallant Francis L of France wrote 
as their captive from the field of Pavier, " Madam, 
we have lost all but our honor;" or when their 
proud ''Armada" swept the British Channel, and 
their gorgeous ensigns overshadowed the union jack, 
intending, by their thumb-screws and hellish devices, 
to bend our free necks to bigotry and slavery's 
chains. It was then Britain's hardy sons and Eng- 
land's iron-bound coast defeated, by the help of God, 
their ambitious project. But my feelings are running 
me off my course, and, with this admonition, Eng- 
land, look to thine acts in L^dia and Africa ! I will 
return to my tale of what happened long, long ago. 
Behold this Spanish tub, (age unknown,) under close- 
reefed topsails and reefed courses, going one foot 
ahead, and two feet to leeward — a thick haze — no 
observation for two days previous — wind blowing 
dead on shore — a sneezer and no mistake — first 
lieutenant fidgety — and with the gunner securing 



200 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



guns with hammocks, hausers, and cleets ; for the 
heaviness of the sea made her roll gunnel to, and 
great apprehensions were entertained of the bolts 
drawing, and setting our eighteen-pounders free, the 
consequence of which would be instant destruction. 

Sir Sidney's good-humored countenance acquired 
a very sedate cast, and Captain Selby gazed eagerly 
to leeward, and evinced great anxiety, for we only 
guessed at our situation, which, by our dead reckon- 
ing, was sufficiently near the horrible coast of Bar- 
bary to justify more apprehension than was openly 
displayed. 

" Get a cast of the deep sea-lead, Mr. Mowbray," 
said the captain, addressing Old Soundings, the 
master. 

"Ay, ay, sir." 

" Men in the weather chains, and pass the line 
along ; all ready, forward from the weather cathead ; 
heave without shortening sail, Mr. Mowbray, for fear 
we have no room to spare ; look at her wake." 

" She falls to leeward like a sand-barge, fifty 
fathoms up and down," called the master, " and no 
bottom." 

'' Examine the arming, master," said Sir Sidney ; 
'' the ship labors much." 

" It has not struck bottom, Sir Sidney. I believe 
it a bold shore and an iron-bound coast, steep and 
inaccessible." 

" You were wrecked in a sloop commanded by the 
Hon. Courtney Boyle ? " 

"Yes, Sir Sidney, near Arab's Tower, a very dif- 
ferent coast to the one directly to leeward." 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES, 201 

The short autumnal day was closing in ; the sun 
had set in the midst of heavy clouds, nearly obscure 
with heavy mist, but casting a red and threatening 
farewell glance at us, who still plodded on, one foot 
ahead and two to leeward, pitching bows under, and 
nearly burying herself in water. 

Soundings and myself had charge of the middle 
watch, though few got any sleep on this dreary long 
night. I had nominal charge, Mr. Mowbray de facto ; 
the captain did not think a boy quite competent to 
the serious duty that might devolve on him for 
making Cape Dern suddenly in such a sea as was 
then running. Ensconced under the weather bul- 
wark, being tired of listening to the groaning and 
creaking timbers of the '' Ell Carmen," as she labored 
and strained through the mountainous waves, that 
frequently broke upon and half filled the waste, 
added to these melodies the clanking of the chain 
pumps, gave every tone but a lively tenor. 

''Mowbray," said 1, "cheer me with a short yarn 
of your adventures among the Monsieurs, when 
wrecked with Captain Boyle." 

"Agreed, my boy; and as Sir Sidney and the 
captain have (tired of watching) gone down for their 
middle watches, send the youngster to forage." 

This produced salt junk and a glass of grog, which 
animated Soundings sufficiently to begin his short 
yarn, after having again cautioned the look-out men 
to look well for the land to leeward ; and, taking up 
a position in the topsail halyard rack, he commenced 
as follows : — 



202 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

MOWBRAY'S YARN. 

" I think I have described our reaching the shore 
on rafts, and being saved from the tender mercies 
of the Bedouin Arabs by a French party of cavalry, 
who arrived very opportune ; I imagine you have 
heard me speak of these things." "One hundred 
times," I was on the point of exclaiming, but checked 
myself, for the master's tale was a standing dish in 
our gun-room, and came with the wine on the din- 
ner-table daily, the name of the Hon. Courtney 
Boyle always producing the following yarn. 

" 1 have a recollection of having told you how 
hard we fared in Alexandria, even during the time 
of ' Kleber ; ' but when that excellent general (the 
very best and most skilful Frenchman in Egypt) fell 
beneath the assassin's dagger, our treatment was 
abominably cruel. His successor, Menou, (whom 
many people suspected,) chose to throw the suspicion 
on us, the English prisoners of war, and, to give 
publicity to his suspicions, placed us in a circle round 
the stake that the wretched youth was impaled on. 
Never, no, never, shall I forget the bloody and brutal 
sight ! The French army formed three sides of a 
square near the palm trees on the Desert side, and 
close to Alexandria ; the open space was to allow the 
ingress of the Bedouin Arabs, who flocked in count- 
less numbers to see their countryman die by the 
dreadful death of impalement. The drums beat to 
arms by daylight, and our ferocious guards urged our 
immediate march ; we were then placed, with scoffs, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 203 

jeers, insults, and curses, close around where the 
stake was intended to be planted immediately. The 
garrison had formed, on came the advanced guard, 
the prisoner, and the executioner bearing the stake. 
The misguided youth, clad in a loose frock, such 
as carters wear in England, and bareheaded, walked 
to the scene of his torments with a firm step, head 
elevated, and eyes expressive of a mind at peace, 
stored with undaunted courage ; his guard now re- 
versed arms, while the bands struck up a solemn 
dirge, and the youthful prisoner, —for I do not think 
he had reached twenty-five years, — was conducted 
into the centre of the guard ; the slight covering was 
then removed, — and a better proportioned, athletic 
youth never stripped ; he was then forcibly thrown 
on his face, his hands and feet secured, and the stake, 
which was hard wood pointed, driven by the exe- 
cutioner along his back-bone. A horrid yell of an- 
guish announced the commencement of his sufferings. 
He was an enthusiast, and conceived his Koran ad- 
vised him to be a murderer. Poor youth ! he ex- 
piated such misconception by suffering torments that 
the ingenuity of the Indians could not rival. The 
wretched youth was then raised, and the stake placed 
in the socket of a shaft sunk deep in the sand, with 
his face and naked body turned to the sun, that 
fiercely glared upon him. Although protected by 
light clothing from its rays, I felt melting beneath 
its intense heat, greatly augmented by reflection from 
the white sand on which Ave stood. O God ! it was 
a pitiable sight to see that manly form, in the image 
of his Maker, so borne up, the muscles and veins 



204 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Standing out like cords on his body, throat, and legs, 
while every nerve qnivered with excessive anguish ; 
but his face, that expressed manly courage and resig- 
nation, now was flushed with agony ; while the eyes, 
protruding from the sockets, looked up for supplica- 
tion for aid, as he loudly invoked his prophet, inter- 
mingled with cries for water, water. To these 
dreadful heart-rending cries we were compelled to 
listen, and our sight was shocked by the unutterable 
agony that convulsed his body till the hour of noon, 
when we were marched back to our caravansary or 
prison — the crowd of Arabs driven out of the square 
— the troops dismissed to their quarters, leaving a 
strong guard rouud the victim of cruelty, who writh- 
ed upon his stake with undiminished power of suffer- 
ing. That night I could not sleep, for his dreadful 
cries still rang in my ears. Again we had to march 
at daylight and circle round the stake, where the 
wretched youth still retained life, with power to utter 
hollow groans that nearly congealed my blood ; but 
when my sight beheld the effect on his manly form 
from that night of agonized sufferings, I closed my 
eyes, nor would I open them again to be blasted by 
such a sight of horror. The eyes and lips had been 
torn away by the birds of prey, who, disturbed at 
their banquet on his body, still wheeled in circles 
above our heads, uttering loud discordant screams, 
while clouds of insects were eating him alive. 

"But hold on, lads," shouted the master, "for here 
comes a tapper." 

The frigate, from having little way, had fallen off 
in the trough of the sea, and a mountainous wave 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 205 

rolling on the beam seemed determined to swamp us ; 
onward it came in its resistless might, breaking over 
the frigate, and sweeping away the boats and spare 
spars. 

"Hold on, good sticks," said Sir Sidney, who, 
with the captain, being roused^ by the concussion, 
came running on deck. 

"Land three points on the lee-bow," called the 
cat headman ; " wear the ship, Captain Selby." 

"It is Cape Dern," said Sir Sidney, "and I fear 
we are embayed. All hands wear ship." 

After a shrill whistle from the boatswain and his 
mates, and "tumble up there, — tumble up," sounded 
through the decks of the "El Carmen," "take the 
mainsail in, Mr. Langden, weather clue first ;" but 
although our first lufF proceeded to shorten sail in a 
seamen-like manner, the mainsail blew to ribbons as 
she came to the wind on the other tack ; and fortu- 
nate for the old frigate, it so happened, for we were 
taken flat aback in a heavy squall, and, had the main- 
sail still remained set, we most certainly should have 
gathered stern away and foundered. There is a 
guiding hand in all these events, which are not left to 
chance, — " no Christian should memion the word," 
he cannot believe in it ; from forty-five years' experi- 
ence at sea, I have no doubt of a particular Providence 
in all these escapes, and God help us, if it did not 
exist, the foresight of the cleverest seaman would 
avail but little ; for 

" There 's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, 
To look out a good berth for poor Jack." 

18 



206 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

In the preceding part I have said very little of the 
hero of my tale : I now beg leave to introduce him to 
my readers as he appeared to me ; no passer-by of 
observation, however hurried, but would stop to get a 
second glance of this heroic prince of chivalry, whose 
manners would have done honour to Lord Chester- 
field's tuition, and whose heart was the seat of kind- 
ness, good humor, and hilarity. He was the life of 
the ship, composed songs, and sang them ; full of 
anecdote, so well told that you lost sight of the little 
bit of egotism they smacked of. 

'' I have some knowledge of that man at your 
weather wheel," said he to me one morning, as we 
paced the quarter-deck of his Majesty's frigate. " In 
what ship have we sailed together, my man ?" 

'' No ship, Sir Sidney ; but your honor will recol- 
lect that bit of a scrimmage with mounseer in 
Ancona." 

'* I do perfectly recollect that I owe my life to the 
courage of you and your companions, and here is a 
guinea to impress it on your mind." And Sir Sidney 
resumed his walk. 

"At the time he alluded to, I commanded a frigate 
lying in the little port of Ancona — it was just pre- 
vious to our declaration of war — and in the midst of 
the French revolutionary fury, I gave a dinner in 
their best hotel to the royalists, both ashore and 
afloat ; and in the height of our hilarity the Jacobins 
of the town, headed by the crew of a French privateer 
madly intoxicated, surrounded the house for the pur- 
pose of exterminating the aristocrats. The chairs 
and tables were converted into weapons of defence ; 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 207 

as riLy uniform sword was the only warlike instru- 
ment, it rendered good service by letting out the life's 
blood of two leaders of this sanguinary band; but we 
were sore pressed and outnumbered, as three of my 
friends had been torn to pieces by the infuriated mob, 
when by God's good providence the crews of the 
English ships lying in the port came to our rescue, 
and barely in time to save me from dangling at the 
window sill, through which they were forcing me 
with a hempen cravat, more useful than ornamental, 
when the hearty British cheer stopped their proceed- 
ings, and obliged them to use their legs as their best 
mode of defence and only means of safety. I need 
not tell you that my friend at the wheel behaved well 
at the rescue." 

Sir Sidney, who shortened his moustaches daily 
according to our run made in the night, fully deter- 
mined to get rid of them by our arrival in England, 
was to me an object of great interest from the anec- 
dotes my messmate, Dick Janervin, who served under 
him in the Tigre at the renowned defence of Acre, 
used to tell us. Apropos of my friend Dick, who 
merited and obtained a post captain's rank previous to 
his early and much lamented death. This officer, 
whose unequalled adventures I hope some day, by 
the permission of his friends, to give the public in my 
reminiscences, was despatched by Sir Sidney at Acre, 
to give his Sublime Highness at Constantinople the 
interesting account of his defeatnig Bonaparte, at 
the head of his conquering legions, by the simple aid 
of a British seventy-four and his own great skill. 
Captain Janverin travelled through the Desert with 



208 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

no other protection than an Arab guide, his own 
strong arm, and dauntless heart. He was over- 
whelmed on the passage by the sands of the Desert, 
raised into mountains by their awful simoon, or fiery 
wind, extricated and tenderly nursed by the Bedouin 
Arabs, who are ever roaming its pathless track, and 
conducted by them safely through its solitary waste. 
But I perceive the name of my friend Janverin has 
caused me, in nautical language, to take a broad 
yaw ; therefore, to return to the hero of my tale, 
who, Janverin used to tell ufe, was the best runner 
he ever met with, for when reconnoitring the French 
army before Acre, his companions would point out to 
Sir Sidney, that the sharpshooters had been thrown 
forward with a great wish to make him their target, 
for Syria and Acre depended on his life. 

" I see them lying down under the ridges of sand 
in front, Sir Sidney, and they will put a ball through 
you before you can say Jack Robinson." 

''Now, boys, the devil take the hindmost;" and 
Sir Sidney would enter the breach in the walls, 
where Jezza Pacha made his bed every night during 
the siege, before his companions were half Avay. In 
course of time, but long over due, we made Gibraltar, 
and there landed General Sir Edward Paget, and 
several military otficers, who were heartily tired of 
us. On our passage down, we one night fell in with 
a frigate, and taking her for an enemy, from not an- 
swering our signals, prepared for action, vvhen Sir 
Sidney appeared on deck in the costume jf Robinson 
Crusoe. 

"I will head the boarders, Captain Selby, and 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



209 



only advise one broadside with the muzzle of your 
guns touching the Frenchman's." 

But the Frenchman turned out to be an Algerine 
frigate, and Sir Sidney detained her two hours, while 
he wrote instructions to the Bey of Doria, should the 
French again attempt a landing on his frowning 
coast, and among his savage subjects, to whom we 
had the pleasing prospect of becoming hewers of 
wood and drawers of water, if we escaped the impen- 
ding shipwreck, which the sudden shift of wind so 
providentially saved us from, when embayed on that 
dangerous coast, taking in fresh water, and landing 
some nobs of passengers, among which was the 
before-named general, who was without exception a 
perfect gentleman and an excellent officer. I think I 
read of his death a few days back, and grieve much 
that such ornaments to society should grow old and 
die off like the common clods of this earth, who in 
many instances vegetate like cabbages, and die un- 
loved and unknown, superior to the brute creation 
only in speech, which gift is too often abused by 
blasphemous oaths and dreadful revilings. But a 
truce to moralizing. A few hours again saw us 
through the straits, and in the vast Atlantic. Sir 
Sidney, among his many peculiar eccentricities, asser- 
ted that rats fed cleaner, and were better eating than 
pigs or ducks ; and, agreeably to his wish, a dish of 
these beautiful vermin were caught daily with fish- 
hooks well baited in the provision hold, for the ship 
was infested with them, and served up at the cap- 
tain's table ; the sight of them alone took off the keen 
edge of my appetite. Some days previous to striking 
18* 



210 . NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

soundings it blew so hard, with such a sea, as was 
conceived dangerous for the old tub to scud in ; ac- 
cordingly she was made snug by getting the topgal- 
lant masts on deck, and we hove-to under a close- 
reefed main topsail. I only saw Sir Sidney once 
during the gale, when he jocosely remarked that he 
was only a passenger, and therfore should return to 
his cot, which he deemed the most comfortable place 
in the ship. On the following morning, the wind 
having moderated, we bore up and shook a reef out 
of the topsails, dropped the foresail, and stood under 
the stern of a large ship, laboring heavily with top- 
gallant yards across in a topping sea, with American 
colors reversed. 

"I am in a sinking state," said brother Jonathan, 
''and I calculate I shall only be able to keep her up 
two hours or so ; the people are frightened, and I am 
in a bit of a shake ; therefore, Britisher, I will take it 
as a compliment if you will send your boat, (mine 
are washed away,) and save us from being drowned 
like rats in this tarnation leaky hooker." 

"I will stay by you," said Captain Selby ; "but no 
boat will live in this sea." 

Upon this declaration, Jonathan Corncob spat twice 
as fast as ever, and observed, *' You might oblige us 
with a boat, captain." 

His passengers and crew did not take it in the same 
cool way their master did, but raised a great outcry, 
and threw up their hands to a superior power for aid. 
While despairingly they tried to induce us to send a 
boat, Sir Sidney's kind heart was touched by the 
scene. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 211 

*^ Captain Selby, if you will risk your lee-quarter 
cutter, I will save, by the help of Heaven, those des- 
pairing creatures. Give me choice men, good boat- 
men, Mr. Langclose, and, with your captain's permis- 
sion, I will take you in the boat." 

This speech relieved me from a heavy weight of 
care, for, as officer of the watch, it was my duty to 
share the risk with Sir Sidney; but I had not the 
slightest inclination to be drowned even in such good 
company, and his choice of the first lieutenant (there 
is no accounting for taste) set both heart and mind at 
rest ; for I fully concurred with my captain in opin- 
ion, that no boat could live. 

Sir Sidney was the first man to spring into the lee- 
cutter. Captain Selby having remonstrated against 
his risking so valuable a life, was answered gaily by 
the gallant hero, calling to our first luff, "Mr. Lang- 
don, if your tackle falls give way, you will be drown- 
.ed for your inattention, as I intend to be lowered in 
the boat, and her tackle should always be ready to 
bear any weight. Now for a bow and stern-fast well 
attended, and your two best quartermasters at the 
falls. Watch her roll, men, when I give the word, 
for on your attention and skill depend the lives of the 
cutter's crew, your first luff, to say nothing of my 
own, and Chips, the carpenter, whom, with your 
leave. Captain Selby, 1 will take on board Jonathan, 
who I suspect is not so bad as stated, but rather lost 
in his reckoning. Additional stretches in the boat, 
Mr. Langdon ; each man with them in his hands to 
bear us off the side. Now, Captain Selby, place 
your frigate close on her weather-quarter, to make a 



212 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



lee for us." And every man held his breath with 
consternation, as the gallant hero, watching the lee 
roll, loudly gave the word to lower away roundly, — 
still louder, to let go and unhook, on the celerity of 
which depended all their lives. I drew my breath 
freely, when the boat showed her stern to the 
mountainous waves, impelled by her oars, as each 
billow threatened to engulf her, and the cool magna- 
nimity of Sir Sidney, as he steered alongside the 
wall-sided monster of a Yankee, who rolled awfully 
as he sprang on board. 

'^ I guess you are the captain of that there Britisher," 
said Jonathan Corncob, addressing the hero of Acre, 
and I take your conduct as most particularly civil." 

" I am only a passenger in yon frigate, and am 
called Sir Sidney Smith ; but let your carpenter 
show mine where he thinks the leak is, and I shall 
be glad to look at your chart." 

"You shall see it, Sidney Smith, (we do not ac- 
knowledge titles in our free country;)" and Jonathan 
unrolled a very greasy chart before Sir Sidney. 

" I do not see any track pricked off ; what was 
your longitude at noon yesterday ? and what do you 
think your drift has been since that time ? " 

" Why, to tell you the truth, Sidney Smith, I avn't 
begun to reckon yet ; but mate and I was about it 
when the gale came on. I think we are about here." 
And Jonathan Corncob covered many degrees with 
the broad palm of his hand. " Mate thinks we are 
more to the southward." 

This convinced Sir Sidney that he rightly guessed 
that the man was lost. Americans, long, long ago, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 213 

were not preeminent as now in navigation, and were 
generally and irreverently called God's ships. The 
carpenter, by this time, had diminished the leak ; and 
Sir Sidney, giving Captain Corncob the bearings and 
distance of Brest only a day's sail dead to leeward, 
oifered to take him and his crew on board the El 
Carmen, leaving the boat's crew to run the tarnation 
leaky hooker into Brest, and claiming half her value 
as salvage. 

But Jonathan gravely demurred, and calling to 
mate, ''Reverse our stripes, and place our stars upper- 
most again, where they should be," while he kindly 
slapt Sir Sidney on the shoulder, calling him an hon- 
est fellow from the old country ; and in the fulness 
of his gratitude offered him a quid of tobacco and a 
glass of brandy. 

Sir Sidney got on boavd without accident, and 
Jonathan Corncob made all sail for Brest, where I 
trust (but never heard) that he safely arrived. The 
following letter from Sir Sidney to Captain Janverin, 
who sought employment in the Austrian service, will 
show the amiability and kindness of his excellent 
heart. And allow me to introduce my old messmate, 
Dick Janverin, who died at an early age in France, 
where he had resided on a post-captain's half-pay, hav- 
ing received various wounds, and encountered many 
hairbreadth escapes, that would have destroyed any oth- 
er constitution and frame, but his were, like his nerves, 
firm as iron and true as steel. I have him now in 
my mind's eye, as with his Herculean frame he stood 
modestly uncovered before Lord Nelson on the quar- 
ter-deck of the flag-ship, the Foudroyant, in Palermo 



214 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Bay. The case was, a number of wild midshipmen 
played so many mad pranks on the previous night at 
the Opera House, that the audience with one consent 
united to turn them out ; this was strenuously resist- 
ed, but considerably outnumbered, and sight dazzled 
by that effective, bright, but small instrument, the 
stiletto, a retreat was ordered by our commander Jan- 
verin, who covered our rear, by levelling the Italians 
with his powerful fists, and few possessed so much 
power; they fell before him like corn before the 
reaper ; so that we effected our escape to the Spanish 
coffee-house, and gathering the British midshipmen 
there assembled, loaded several coaches, and returned 
to the attack ; but the manager had most wisely closed 
the house, and we were now called upon by Lord 
Nelson to rebut the chief justice's charge of having 
created a riot. Janverin was our spokesman, and as- 
sured his lordship we had only acted in self-defence, 
and received even blows before we thought of return- 
ing them. 

*'Mr. Janverin," said Lord Nelson, "you have 
more the appearance of the lion than the lamb, and I 
prohibit any petty officers from going on shore, except 
on duty." 

Our leave was stopped till the capture of the 
" Guillaume Tell " again restored it. Dick Janverin 
left us to join his old friend and captain, Sir Sidney 
Smith, and I now proceed to give part of his event- 
ful life in his own simple and modest narrative. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 215 



RICHARD GAVE JANVERIN, ESQ., LATE POST-CAPTAIN IN 
HER majesty's FLEET. 

« Paris, 15th April, 1818. 

" My dear Sir, 

" I do not lose a post, having an opportunity 
clear of the foreign mails, and knowing your precise 
address from your last letter, to acknowledge it, and 
to say I agree with you in your reasoning, now that 
Austria and we have avowedly the same interests, 
though it was delicate ground to touch, whilst the 
state of Italy and France was unsettled, and she lia- 
ble to be forced to make unwilling and distressing 
sacrifices, as heretofore, for the sake of peace and po- 
litical existence. 

" I shall be most happy to further your views, un- 
der my experience of your indefatigable zeal and 
nautical knowledge, my conviction of your capacity 
to realize them with great credit to yourself and those 
who patronize you ; among the latter you are right 
in reckoning on me. 

" Now for the mode of proceeding. You must 
first become sufficiently master of the Italian lan- 
guage to enable you to command those who speak 
that only. Prince Nugent, with whom I can interest 
myself in your favor, speaks English fluently. I can 
get him to present you properly to those I am not in 
any degree of intimacy sufficient to take such a lib- 
erty with, as he knows them all ; but we cannot and 
must not presuppose that the Austrian government, 
though it may see its interests in a nautical establish- 
ment, feels or can be made to feel, it sufficiently to 



216 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

make pecuniary sacrificeSj or to withdraw a sufficient 
portion of its finance from the army, to create and 
support such an establishment. 

" The apphcation for you to be allowed to serve in 
a foreign state must be made by that government to 
ours ; that si7ie qua non was pointed out by the Ad- 
miralty, in answer to Wright's application for leave to 
serve in the Sardinian incipient navy. 

" This not succeeding in Austria, you might get 
leave to create and command a Tuscan flotilla, that 
state being at war with the Barbaresques, through 
Austria not being covered from depredations by treaty 
with the Porte. 

"I recommend your studying the Italian in Tusca- 
ny, and taking Prince Nugent's advice as to further 
proceedings. I am ready to answer any reference 
that Count Meerfeldt may make, in such manner as 
he will consider sufficiently favorable to authorize his 
recommendation of you. 

" Yours ever, with sincere esteem and regard, 

*' W. Sidney Smith." 

CAPTAIN JANVERIN's NARRATIVE. 

I went to sea in the Resistance, 44, Captain Ed- 
mund Pakenham, on the 5th of September, 1793, 
being then near thirteen years old, having been born 
December 2, 1780. I received a regular education at 
different schools, being intended for a mercantile life ; 
but I ran from that situation, and was the founder of 
my own fortune in the navy, having entered as a boy. 
On the 19th of November, 1793, we sailed for India, 
and the first shot I ever saw fired was in an action 



I 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 217 

off the Mauritius, with the Dugauez Firman, a ves- 
sel which had formerly been the Princess Royal, In- 
diaman, had been captured early in the war, and fitted 
as a privateer. In this ship I was present at the cap- 
ture of Malacca and its dependencies, and in 1796 at 
the capture of the Moluccas, and was employed with 
the small-arm men whenever their services were re- 
quired, though without much real service, except in 
the beginning of 1797 and latter end of 1796, when 
1 was in some smart bush-fighting with the revolted 
Malays. In 1797 I was present at the attack of Co- 
pang, headed the parties in the destruction of this 
place, and was severely wounded in three places. 
During the time we were lying at Banda in this ship, 
the revolted slaves set fire to the town ; and here I 
had the pleasure of preserving and restoring to their 
mother, at the imminent hazard of my own life, 
(from a house that was in flames, and which was sup- 
posed to contain a quantity of gunpowder,) two chil- 
dren, one the age of three years, and the other three 
months. 

I quitted this ship at Amboyna, in October, 1798, 
to join a ship, to which I had been appointed by Lord 
Keith, as a lieutenant, and at a very considerable ex- 
pense to myself; for living on shore until a convey- 
ance could be found, paying my own passage, &c. &c., 
cost me three hundred pounds before my arrival at 
the Cape ; and there I had the mortification to find 
that the Dordrecht, to which I had been appointed, 
had sailed for England. I now fully determined to 
quit the naval service, as, upon application to Sir 
Hugh Christian, then commander-in-chief of the 
19 



218 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

navy, I could not get admittance on board any ship 
at that time in Table Bay, but was told I might pay 
my passage to England, if I wished to be there. I 
was thus thrown off from the service, after having 
served near five years with some credit to myself, 
and having received some wounds in it. 

This was the second disappointment ; the first had 
originated with Captain Pakenham refusing to allow 
me a passage to China, to which place he was going, 
though I requested and urged it very frequently in a 
correspondence which passed. The only reason I 
could elicit from him for not allowing me a passage 
was, that the route to China was not that of the Cape 
of Good Hope, though at that time it appeared to be 
the only chance I had of being enabled to get a pas- 
sage for that colony. I, however, succeeded after- 
wards in a ship, which had come as a transport from 
India, and which, fortunately for me, was ordered to 
the Cape. Had it not been for the humanity of Mr. 
Jones, the company's agent at Amboyna, I should 
probably have starved at that place, as, when Cap- 
tain Pakenham sent me on shore from the Resistance, 
I had but five Spanish dollars to maintain myself till 
I could get a passage, and to pay for such passage, in 
a distance of five or six thousand miles. However, 
I suppose this was considered to be for the good of 
the service. Mr. Jones took my word and my bill, 
and supplied me with money, for which I shall al- 
ways feel grateful, and promised, if no other oppor- 
tunity offered, that he would order me a passage in a 
ship of the Company's, which had arrived to land 
spices. Out of evil cometh good. Had I gone in 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



219 



the Resistance, it is probable I should have lost my 
life, as that ship was blown up, and all hands perished. 
Having determined to quit the service, I had engaged 
with a Mr. Brown, then agent victualler at the Cape, 
to take command of a ship of his to India. This ar- 
rangement was concluded, when, to my astonishment, 
I received a letter from Sir Hugh Christian, to attend 
him, when he proposed my going home in a vessel, 
which he had purchased for the purpose of sending 
home despatches. This I refused, and was given to 
understand, if I did not comply, I should be treated 
as a deserter from the service. 1 had been living on 
shore at the Cape for a month at no small expense ; 
the despatches were intercepted ones from the French 
Directory to the governor of the Isle of France, ap- 
prizing him of the expedition from Toulon. Here I 
again felt the strong hand of power ; but it saved me 
a second time. The vessel I was to have command- 
ed was taken by her crew of Malays, and all the offi- 
cers were murdered. In this vessel, called the Corn- 
wallis, commanded by Captain Byron, I embarked 
compulsorily for a second time in the naval service of 
my country, and without any material occurrence, 
was paid off from her at Deptford in July, 1798, and 
immediately joined the Tigre, then commanded by 
Sir Sidney Smith, and was with him during the siege 
of Saint Jean d'Acre, or at least arrived in time to 
see the commencement of it, as I had been put by 
him into the command of a small vessel purchased 
for the conveyance of despatches, and in which I es- 
caped from a French squadron of three frigates and 
three brigs off Alexandria, and arrived in the Bay of 



220 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Acre, on the 19th of March, the day Bonaparte invad- 
ed that town. I had here a narrow escape, as I had 
anchored under Caiffa, not knowing that it was in the 
possession of the French, and had proposed to go on 
shore for intelHgence of where Sir Sidney might be, 
when it came on to blow, and the next morning I 
found the French colors flying there. I was wound- 
ed in three places at the siege severely. 

After the defeat of Bonaparte, in the year 1799, 
before Acre, not having the means of conveyance for 
his sick and wounded by land, he was reduced to the 
necessity of relying on the justice of his conqueror 
for the freedom of a passage by water for part of 
them, and to his humanity for supplying them with 
provisions and necessaries, of which they were whol- 
ly destitute. This appeared rather an act of provi- 
dential favor to Sir Sidney Smith, whose humanity 
had been called in question by Bonaparte, who had 
not scrupled to affirm he had enticed the French sol- 
diers to desert, and had afterwards put them on board 
vessels infected with the plague for a conveyance to 
Toulon ; thus fulfilling the promises held out to them. 
The absurdity of this charge would not require a 
refutation, if the world would give themselves a mo- 
ment's time for consideration ; as, however desirous 
Sir Sidney might have been to get clear of the French 
army, he never would have exposed a part of his own 
ship's company to the danger of infecHon, as it was 
necessary that men and officers should be sent to nav- 
igate the vessels. But to proceed. 

On the afternoon of the 24th of May, 1799, as the 
Tigre was proceeding down the coast of Palestine, a 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 221 

sail was discovered, which, on being boarded, proved 
to be a Turkish vessel, having on board two hundred 
and fifty wounded officers and men belonging to the 
French army, that had been sent from Jaffa in this 
vessel, without medicine, and almost destitute of pro- 
visions. The following is a copy of a letter written 
to Sir Sidney on this occasion. 

''On this application, myself* and seven men were 
sent from the Tigre to navigate the vessel to Dami- 
etta, and we were amply supplied with every requi- 
site for dressing their wounds by the surgeon, and 
with every comfort from Sir Sidney Smith's private 
stock. On the second day after quitting the Tigre, 
the vessel was wrecked on the desert of Syria, to the 
southward of El Arish, about the pitch of Kan, in a 
heavy gale of wind. I was then laboring under the 
pain of a still unclosed rifle wound through the right 
shoulder, but made every exertion to save the people, 
and at last happily accomplished it after great difficul- 
ty, remaining on board till every person was landed, 
the sea making a fair breach over the vessel, and ex- 
pecting to part every moment. When the last party 
was landed, by some mismanagement of the seamen, 
by not attending to the swifter on the hawser, the 
boat was swamped on the beach ; thus the little store 
of water that it might have been practicable to carry 
was not available, and we found ourselves, without 
victuals or drink, in the midst of a desert, and, as we 
believed, upwards of seventy miles from the nearest 
French post. To attempt returning was not to be 



* Mr. Janverin, master's mate. 
19* 



222 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

thought of, certain destruction awaiting us from the 
Arabs if we had attempted it. 

" Reduced to the necessity of trusting to the 
strength of a single arm in swimming through the 
breakers, I jumped overboard and happily accompHsh- 
ed it, reaching the shore almost exhausted and expir- 
ing. A consultation was now held of what would be 
best to be done ; and it was resolved to attempt reach- 
ina: some of the frontier fortresses between the Nile 
and Syria. Our intention was Tinch, if possible, 
and on calculating the supposed distance, it was found 
to be upwards of seventy miles. Those, whose 
wounds were so severe as to prevent their moving, 
we were reduced to the necessity of leaving on the 
beach, (to the mercy of that Providence who seldom 
forsakes his creatures in their distress,) in the hope 
that some vessel passing down might be able to re- 
lieve them from their impending fate, or that the 
weather might prove so moderate that provisions 
might be procured from the ship ; for which purpose, 
two of the seven men sent from the Tigre were left 
with them, from their own choice, rather than under- 
go the hardships and fatigue of endeavoring to find 
their way through the desert. 

" After having arranged everything that could be 
done, we commenced our march at six o'clock in the 
evening of the 26th of May, carrying on our shoul- 
ders one of the French officers, who had been severe- 
ly wounded, hoping to be able to keep him with us. 
We travelled in this way until about ten o^clock, 
when he desired to be left under some small shrubs, 
(the only ones that we found for nearly two days,) 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 223 

requesting, if any of us arrived at a French station, 
that we would despatch people to seek him, and, in 
case of his deaths to bury him in the desert. I had 
with me a bottle of wine, which I secured about me 
when I jumped overboard from the wreck ; this I 
gave him ; and after taking leave, doubtful whose sit- 
uation was the most desirable, we pursued our jour- 
ney until daylight of the 27th, when, finding our- 
selves fatigued, we halted on the margin of the sea 
which was still running dreadfully high. Here three 
of the remaining English returned to the wreck, al- 
leging that, rather than suffer the fatigue that we had 
apparently to undergo, they would take their chance 
with the wounded left on the beach. 

•' After halting about four hours, we proceeded on 
our march, under all the influence of a vertical sun 
in these low latitudes, in the hottest time of the year. 
About mid-day we halted again, having proceeded, 
by our calculation, about thirty miles from the wreck. 
Here those who could do it, finding an excessive 
thirst, determined on bathing, that the pores might 
imbibe the moisture. Of this rash determination we 
heartily repented, as the particles of salt, which was 
formed upon the body after bathing, had such an ef- 
fect from the friction of the clothes, as gave the skin 
the appearance of beef which had been salted, and 
we were obhged to shift off every article of clothing, 
except shirts and shoes, and travel in this manner. 
At sunset again we halted for the night, much fa- 
tigued and faint for want of sustenance, not having 
eaten or drunk anything since our departure from the 
wreck on the evening before. 



224 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

" We now amounted to no more than one hundred 
and twenty, the rest having remained behind from fa- 
tigue, or returned to take their chance by the wreck. 
It was now quite calm, and my advice was that we 
should all return, as we had not yet completed more 
than half our computed distance ; but, on revising 
our calculation, we found that instead of seventy 
miles, which we at first calculated, the distance was 
more than ninety, of which we had not completed 
more than forty. Yet scarcely a complaint was heard. 
About two in the morning of the 28th of May, we 
resumed our march, suffering all the horrors of thirty 
hours' deprivation from water. We kept along the 
sea-shore the whole of this day, till about four in the 
afternoon, when a French sergeant recognised a par- 
cel of bricks, which he affirmed he had seen the year 
before, in visiting with Bonaparte the French posts 
on the confines of Syria, and that our distance from 
the French port of El Calich did not exceed twenty- 
five miles. 

" This was joyful news to those who had been 
near forty-eight hours without sustenance of any 
kind. But fearful of trusting to the knowledge of 
one man, which, should it not be correct, would in- 
volve us all in irremediable destruction, we determined 
to put it to the vote, which was in the affirmative. 
In fact, it appeared the lightest of two evils ; it was 
becoming apparent that few if any of us would have 
strength sufficient to overcome the difficulties of fifty 
miles, which we calculated with some certainty yet 
remained for us to perform to the nearest French post, 
on the Lake of Mangala. With some faint hopes, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 225 

but heavy hearts, we then committed ourselves to the 
deserts, and proceeded, by what we willingly believed 
had been a beaten track, until sunset, when we halt- 
ed, having proceeded about two leagues into the 
desert. At this time we were so exhausted as to 
make it doubtful if any of us would again be able to 
rise. I now attempted to drink my own urine, but 
found it so bitter and unpalatable, that I was forced 
to desist. Not being able to sleep, I wandered about 
with the French sergeant, who had been guide, in 
hopes of finding some palm trees, which he said he 
had seen near the spot where we had halted. About 
twelve at night we, by the help of the moon, discov- 
ered them, to our inexpressible satisfaction ; as, 
wherever the palm tree is found, water, either good 
or bad, is certain. With an old cutlass we contrived 
to make an excavation, and found, — O heavens what 
were our feelings ! — water, after having been depriv- 
ed of it near fifty-four hours. Those who have felt 
the want of water, even in England, for ever so short 
a time, may judge what were our sensations, who 
had been so long deprived of it under a vertical sun, 
and had travelled during that time fifty-four miles. 
But our joy was considerably damped on finding it so 
nauseously bitter, that it required almost as great in- 
centives as we were then laboring under to induce 
us to drink of it. It allayed our thirst for the time, 
but the sensation left on the palate was, if possible, 
worse than the raging thirst. All, however, drank of 
it, and felt some refreshment, but none could be in- 
duced to try a second draught, and in a very short 
time the effects were felt, the water being strongly 
impregnated with salt. 



226 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

'' At daylight we again moved forward, and found 
that the road we had taken was a beaten track. At 
sunrise we were tantalized by the appearance of a 
lake of water. This extraordinary phantom, known 
by the appellation of mirage, is occasioned by the 
dew, that falls copiously during the night, being ab- 
sorbed or drawn up by the power of the sun in half 
an hour after its rising ; and although we were firm- 
ly persuaded, and in fact had certain knowledge, that 
no water could be there, still we followed the decep- 
tion ; and what is still more strange, disappointment 
was strongly expressed in the countenance. 

" About ten o'clock we got sight of some trees, 
which our guide, to our no small joy, recognised. 
Here we again dug for water ; but, though a height 
of four hundred feet above the level, at the depth of 
not more than two we found the water as salt as if it 
had been taken from the ocean. Having now reached 
a frequented country, it became necessary to make 
some appearance of a regular march, to intimidate the 
strolling parties of Arabs, should there be any on this 
track. Mustering our forces, we found only ninety- 
six of our original number. These we divided. Those 
best able were thrown out upon the flanks, carrying 
on their shoulders branches of palm trees divested of 
their leaves, which gave them at a distance an appear- 
ance of being armed. The others were formed in 
marching order, and armed in the same manner. We 
had now been sixty-six hours without sustenance of 
any description, except the water got at the palm trees 
the second night of our journey. When ascending 
one of the numerous sand-hills, about six o'clock, we 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 227 

got sight of the fortress of Calich, and in less than 
an hour were reconnoitred by the cavalry sent out for 
that purpose ; an instant request was the consequence 
for water and provisions, and a convoy of camels to 
pick up the stragglers. We arrived at the fortress at 
three o'clock, having been three days, Avanting two 
hours, without refreshment, and the thermometer at 
Calich had not been under, during that time, less than 
one hundred and five. 

" It will not, I hope, be deemed presumptuous to 
give an opinion, in this place, as to the supposed con- 
tagious nature of plague. There does not remain a 
doubt of its having existed on board the squadron, 
consisting of the Tigre, eighty, Captain Sir Sidney 
Smith ; Theseus, seventy-four. Captain R. W. Miller; 
and Alliance, store-ship. Captain Wilmot ; but in no 
instance was it found to be communicated from mere 
contact alone, from this proof. When I had returned 
to Sir Sidney, and had the command of a squadron 
of gun-boats, on going on shore at Jaffa I found seven 
unfortunate Frenchmen in the act of being led from 
their hospital, where they had been left by the army 
under plague, to be put to a summary death ; and after 
a great deal of trouble (with an armed boat's crew) 
and some little danger from the Turkish soldiers, I 
rescued them, and took them on board the Negress 
Avith me, where they remained with the glandular 
swellings in a state of suppuration, and with only 
common precaution, for upwards of six weeks, when 
they were all landed at Damietta, and given up to 
the French army. No appearance of the plague ever 
existed on board the Negress among a crew of twen- 



228 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

ty-eight men, besides officers. Another instance I 
would mention at Acre. When I was there, repairing 
a squadron of gun-vessels, it was reported that the 
Pacha's head gardener was ill of the plague. I went 
to his house, and found him utterly deserted by 
everybody but his wife. I kept in the house, perform- 
ed the last offices of religion and humanity for him, 
but escaped the plague. The only precaution I used 
was never to visit him with an empty stomach, and I 
fully consider a small portion of brandy, taken before 
visiting the patient, a sufficient preservative. I was 
afterwards overland to the Red Sea with Admiral 
Blankett, and the plague was supposed to be in the 
army, or that part of it which came up with him. I 
had no bed with me, and an officer having died of 
fever, his bed was ordered to be destroyed. I begged 
it, and slept upon it that night, and for years after, 
without inconvenience. From these trials I judge 
the plague not to be so contagious as is supposed. I 
afterwards, in an inland journey, passed through a 
country which had been nearly depopulated by the 
plague, and halted in the different villages where it 
raged, without being affected. I consider cleanliness 
as the great preventive. The Turks wash and bathe 
frequently, but put on the same linen and clothes. 

" On my arrival at Calich, I found a French officer, 
(or rather German,) whose name was Broff, in com- 
mand of the garrison. Here I experienced every at- 
tention that it was possible to bestow, and remained 
one night. The next morning arrived some officers 
from the advanced guard of the French army, then 
retreating from Syria, who strongly desired my being 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 229 

sent on to Damietta, by a convoy then preparing for 
the Nile, as they asserted that Bonaparte would detain 
me, should I be found at Calich on his arrival, and 
that from the hiunor he was in, I should not be pleas- 
ed with my treatment. It was well that 1 took their 
advice, as the sequel will prove. Bonaparte arrived 
there that day. Being impatient to push on to Cairo, 
he did not receive the reports, but left an aid-de-camp 
to bring them on his arrival at Cairo. When the re- 
port was made to him, he became absolutely furious, 
and immediately despatched orders to supersede the 
commandant of Calich, and to General Almiraz who 
commanded at Damietta, to prevent my departure, 
and send me on to Cairo. I had the parol of the offi- 
cers for my safe conduct and return to Sir Sidney 
Smith in my pocket. It fortunately happened that a 
Turkish vessel had been taken with French wounded 
by the Tigre after my departure. This vessel Gene- 
ral Almiraz, according to the convention, sent back 
to Sir Sidney Smith, and in her I took my departure 
after a four days' stay at Damietta, during which 
time I received from General Almiraz every attention 
and care, and he loaded my vessel, on his departure, 
with provisions of all descriptions, for my passage 
back to Acre. I parted from him with regret. 

" On passing the Fort at Lesbe, the batteries com- 
menced firing upon me for the pm-pose of making me 
heave to, and a boat was despatched for the purpose 
of detaining me. Having some presentiment it was 
by the order of Bonaparte, I determined to pay no at- 
tention to either the boat or the firing ; and having a 
20 



230 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

fine breeze and rapid current, I was soon out of the 
reach of shot. 

" On the evening of the 9th of June, 1799, finding 
it impossible to reach Acre that night, I ran into a 
small bight apparently in the land, but which subse- 
quently proved to be the harbor of Cesarea. We an- 
chored here before sunset, and having an inclination 
to see some part of the immense ruins which present- 
ed themselves, I 'jumped overboard, accompanied by 
John Bell, the coxswain of the Tigre's black cutter, 
and a Greek named Georgi. Not having a boat, in 
this attempt I had very nearly perished. I had on a 
shirt and trousers ; but finding the shirt held a great 
deal of water, I was endeavoring to clear myself of 
it, but my right arm being still weak from the efi'ects 
of the recent wound, I could not support myself with 
it, and the shirt slipping down on my legs had totally 
disabled me from any exertion. Georgi, however, 
soon came to my assistance, and cleared the disaster. 
On our arrival upon the shore, we found the place 
had been a hospital for the sick and wounded, the 
horrid remains of which still presented itself in half- 
burned huts and corpses which had evidently been 
poisoned, and the atrocious deed attempted to be hid 
from human knowledge by the effects of fire. It was 
not probable that any European should visit the spot, 
but it appears the heinous offence was attempted to 
be concealed from the eyes of the barbarous inhabit- 
ants, as being too cruel an act to be tolerated even by 
the wild inhabitants of that coast. When we had 
recovered our horror-stricken faculties, we counted in 
one place alone, not more than six yards square, the 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 231 

mutilated remains of thirty-two bodies ; some had 
evidently suffered amputation, but all bore the une- 
quivocal marks of poison. The bodies had evidently 
swelled, and, from the very light materials of which 
the huts were composed, had not suffered considera- 
bly from the effects of fire. I should estimate the 
whole number at near three hundred men. I found 
besides twelve pieces of brass ordinance, which had 
been sunk to prevent its falling into the hands of the 
Turks or British. These guns were afterwards got up, 
and added to the strength of Acre. 

Bonaparte was exasperated at my escape, and is- 
sued an order that, if taken in any part of Egypt, I 
should be immediately hung without trial. 1 also 
landed with a flag of truce on the subject of sick and 
wounded, — communicated with the General Almiraz 
from Tinch, and was very near being again decoyed 
into the power of Bonaparte. My stay on the coast 
was near a fortnight ; and after my first communica- 
tions, a messenger was sent to Cairo by the general 
on the subject of my despatches, and I was to land 
on that day week for an answer. I did so ; but not 
finding it, the officer commanding at Tinch induced 
me to stay till the next morning, which I did ; but 
the answer not having arrived, I determined to return 
on board. As 1 crossed the bar of the harbor, a 
squadron of camels were perceived moving down ; 
this I supposed must be the answer expected ; still I 
had some idea that all was not right, and having been 
more than twenty-four hours from my command, and 
above all, having distributed the French Gazetteer 
and proclamations of the Ottoman Porte, enticing the 



232 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

French army to desert, I did not think it safe to com- 
ply with a signal made to me to return to the shore, 
but lay off at a little distance. The impetuosity of 
the cavalry saved me ; for finding that I did not ap- 
pear to approach the shore, they commenced a heavy 
fire from their carbines, which went over, through, 
and under the boat, happily without doing injury to 
any person. On this hint I pulled on board, and so 
saved my life. 

" General Almiraz was superseded, and all the ofii- 
cers of the garrison at Damietta ; this I found when 
I joined the French army under the command of 
General Kleber at Salagha, with the treaty of El 
Arish. He introduced me to the general in this way : 
'Almiraz, voil a votre ami.' This produced the ex- 
planation. Bonaparte afterwards told Mr. Keith, who 
was Sir Sidney's secretary, and with him upon some 
diplomatic business at Alexandria, that he had de- 
nounced me in army orders, and that, should I be ta- 
ken, there was no. hope for me. Keith answered this 
in the following spirited way : ' General, we have 
some prisoners in the Tigre, there are more than ten 
thousand in England ; if you hurt a hair of Mr. Jan- 
verin's head, except in allowed warfare, they shall 
answer it.' Bonaparte then laughed and said, ' his 
intention was to send me round the Cape of Good 
Hope, by way of giving me a long passage to join 
Sir Sidney, to whom he knew I was valuable.' Thus 
ended the conversation. 

''• I remained with Sir Sidney in the command of 
detached vessels until July, 1799, when I went down 
to Palermo to Lord Nelson, for the purpose of passing 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 233 

for a lieutenant. From him I received a commission 
to command my old vessel the Negress, as a regular 
gun-vessel. I returned and joined Sir Sidney in De- 
cember. While employed in this vessel off Jaffa, 

and having the Dangereux, commanded by Mr. , 

with me, I learned that a Hydriat vessel then in the 
roads had appropriated to her own use some brass ord- 
nance, which I had received orders to get up. This 
vessel was armed with twenty-two twelve-pounders, 
and full of men, — had been fitted out at the Island 
of Idria. I went on board to demand the guns, when 
resistance was made ; I, however, succeeded in re- 
covering them, and liberating from the Turkish yoke, 
or rather the yoke of pirates, — for such I found they 
afterwards were, — ten Italians, whom they had ta- 
ken out of a Neapolitan vessel, (which they had de- 
stroyed,) and detained as slaves. This vessel had a 
firman from the Grand Seignior, and was manned 
with two hundred men. My small force consisted of 
Negress, six guns and twenty-eight men, and Dan- 
gereux, four guns and eighteen men. Here my life 
was saved by one of the boat's crew of the name of 
Hooker. A Turk had placed the muzzle of his rifle 
close to the back of my neck, and was in the act of 
firing, when knocked down by him. This fellow I 
took on shore and gave up to the governor of Jaffa, 
who executed summary justice upon him. 

" Upon joining Sir Sidney again, I was recom- 
mended to his notice for the purpose of going to In- 
dia with despatches, announcing the treaty of El 
Arish, which was signed on the 29th of January, 
1800 ; and on the 30th of the same month, I left the 
20* 



234 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Vizier's camp at El Arish with General Dessaix, Mon- 
sieur Ponsilieu, D'Anzelot, >Savary, and Rapp. This 
journey brought me acquainted with most of the su- 
perior officers who had been serving under Bonaparte 
in Italy. With this party I went to CaHch, where 
we met the advanced guard of the French army, 
composed of two thousand men. We proceeded to 
, and joined General Kleber with the main ar- 
my consisting of eight thousand ; from whence we 
went to Cairo. I remained there from the 8th to the 
16th of February, and visited the Pyramids, the 
Nile, the ruins on the Island of Rhoda, and all the 
antiquities in the vicinity. 

'' Breakfasting .with General Dessaix one morning, 
a man came in who followed the occupation of slave- 
merchant, and after having saluted the French officer, 
(seeing me in a different uniform,) he requested to 
know who I was. Being told that I was an English- 
man, he immediately came to me and began a conver- 
sation which I could not understand, but I could distin- 
guish clearly the name of Haquin Bruce. I requested 
that the interpreter should be allowed to explain to me 
the merchant's meaning. I found he had been a 
guide with Mr. Bruce in Abyssinia, and appeared very 
anxious to know if he was well, and ever intended 
to return as he had promised. 

"On the 16th I started with a convoy for Suez, 
and arrived there on the 18th ; when immediate prep- 
arations were made by General Boyer for my embark- 
ation in a vessel, which he, by orders of General 
Kleber, gave me. She had been seized from an Arab 
merchant, and converted into a gun-boat, and rigged 
as a lugger. 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 235 

" On the 19th we sailed for Jedda with a crew of 
seven Arabs, a Chinese servant, whom I had hired at 
Cairo, and who had been a valet of Bonaparte, but 
left there by him when he quitted Egypt ; a French 
sailor, who concealed himself in the vessel, and an 
Arab girl given me by General Boyer ; no arms ex- 
cept a pair of pistols, and a sabre of my own. At 
this time the sea of Acaba swarmed with pirates, and 
it was only by putting a good face on the matter I 
escaped being taken ; for the third day after leaving 
Suez, off Cape Raez Mahomed, we perceived, at day- 
light, two large dows in chase of us. There was no 
time to deliberate ; I immediately hauled in towards 
the largest, who, supposing me a French gun-boat, 
made sail from me, leaving me at liberty to prosecute 
my voyage down the Red Sea." 



236 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



THE BATTLE OF ST. VINCENT, 

FEBRUARY 14, 1797,— VALENTINE'S BAY. 

His Majesty's ship Barfleiir, of ninety-eight guns, 
bearing the flag of Vice-admiral Waldegrave, in the 
middle of the year 1795, sailed from Spithead to rein- 
force the fleet of Sir John Jervis, then blockading the 
French fleet in Toulon, and afterwards anchored in 
Gibraltar Bay. To speak of my sufi'ering from that 
nauseous disease, sea-sickness, in the Bay of Biscay, 
would probably excite no more commiseration in my 
readers, than they did from my more experienced 
messmates, who derided them, and comforted me 
with the idea of fat pork and pease-pudding, nauti- 
cally called dog's body. I can only say, to me they 
were inexpressibly severe ; and when my feet pressed 
terra firma at the ragged staff", Gibraltar, I thought 
myself in heaven. Oh, how I relished the firm-set 
earth, and the soft toast and fresh butter it produced ! 
But human felicity is of short duration ; and a few 
hours again saw me pale, home-sick, and miserable ; 
and in course of time we joined the Mediterranean 
fleet, and, with tack and half-tack, took the bearings 
of Cape Sicia at noon, every day for nine months, 
diversified at times by putting into St. Fiorenza Bay 
in Corsica, for water and fresh beef. In the begin- 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 237 

ning of the year 1797, the Fox cutter came into the 
fleet with the signal flying of having despatches of 
great importance to communicate to the commander- 
in-chief, who immediately hove-to, with a general 
signal for lieutenants. This Pox was noted for her 
quick passages, but more for her commander, Lieu- 
tenant Gibson, who was truly a fine specimen of the 
old English seamen, without having contracted their 
vulgarity. I have met him at Admiral Waldegrave's 
table, for he was a universal favorite. In that skir- 
mish of Lord Hotham's not particularly flattering to 
our naval prowess, Gibson in the little Fox ran under 
the stern of the Ca Ira, an eighty-gun ship, and loudly 
called on him to haul down his colors, or he would 
sink him. The Frenchman smiled with contempt, 
and the Fox broke all his stern windows with his 
six-pounders. Alas, poor Gibson ! This gallant offi- 
cer fell a victim to the rash attack made by Sir 
Horatio Nelson on Teneriff'e. A heavy shot from the 
batteries pierced this beautiful and fragile fabric un- 
der water, and she sunk with ninety seamen and 
marines, few of whom were saved. One of the for- 
tunate few I afterwards messed with, and he used to 
electrify us with an account of his miraculous escape 
— the way he shook off" the clutch of the drowning 
wretches around. He was dragged down, and 
touched the bottom three times, and at last was get- 
ing into the dreamy state, which concludes the dread- 
ful sense of suflx)cation, he had before experienced, 
when a boat providentially saved him at the last gasp, 
to adorn the navy, I believe, even to this day. But 
we have left the Victory, Sir John Jervis, with the 



238 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

general signal for lieutenants. This was speedily- 
annulled, and substituted by the one for admirals and 
captains to repair on board the commander-in-chief ; 
this made us aware the intelligence was of immense 
importance and made a great stir among the big wigs. 
As I afterwards heard it explained. Lady Hamilton, 
during the siesta of the king of Naples, purloined 
a letter from his pocket, which he had been observed 
to read with great agitation before dinner. The let- 
ter announced the King of Spain's intention to join 
the coalition against England, and invited his brother 
Ferdinand of Naples to make the blow stronger 
by joining him. The sovereignty of the sea was 
never more strongly menaced. The northern powers 
had coalesced under the Emperor Paul, and England 
stood singly against a world in arms. Rear-admiral 
Mann was detached, with five sail of the line to Ca- 
diz, and the fleet dispersed to various places to extri- 
cate the British commerce ; a few of the three deck- 
ers accompanied the commander-in-chief into St. 
Fiorenza Bay in Corsica, the rendezvous of the Smyr- 
na trade. The French fleet were on the alert, and 
poured their troops into the island of Corsica, where 
we were obliged to fight for our water ; and many 
times have I seen the gallant and skilful veteran, Sir 
J. Sauvage, scrambling up the rocks with all the alac- 
rity of youth. At last, with ten sail of the line, 
and each ship of war with a heavy merchantman in 
tow, we sailed from St. Fiorenza Bay, closely follow- 
ed by the Toulon fleet ; so closely that no lights 
were displayed, or guns allowed to be fired. After 
passing the straits of Gibraltar, his Majesty's sloop, 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. '239 

Bonne Citoyenne, joined the fleet, with intelh'gence 
that the Spaniards were at sea under Don Cordova, 
to the immense number of twenty-seven sail of the 
line, and that of the largest size, accompanied by ten 
frigates, while rumors of the most portentous nature 
stated their intention of proceeding to Brest, accom- 
panied by the Toulon fleet ; and by the junction of 
the grand French fleet, there awaiting them, to enter 
the British Channel above a hundred sail of the line, 
and to sweep it to the mouth of the Thames. Sir 
John Jervis, by the junction of Sir P. Parker, with 
five sail of the line, now numbered fifteen, and two 
frigates ; and with this small comparative force had 
he to keep in check the Spanish Don, and show a 
bold front to the Toulon fleet, close on his heels, and 
outnumbering him. Never since England displayed 
her banner to the breeze, hath a British admiral been 
called upon for a decision on which the fate of his 
country more hung. If defeated in fight, Portugal 
must fall, and very few of his fleet would reach a 
British port. Pressed on all sides by a powerful and 
haughty enemy, with the northern powers on the 
alert, a defeat would be fatal to the interests, probably 
the independence, of his country ; and a further re- 
treat into the channel would be such a glaring con- 
fession of weakness, as probably to realize the fable 
of the sick lion, and bring all the minor states to kick 
at him in his helpless state. Sir John decided, like a 
brave man, to fight, and leave the event to Infinite 
Wisdom, in whose hands is the fate of nations ; and 
I will bear testimony to the excellent discipline in 
which Sir John kept his fleet ; it was a pattern to all 



240 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

Others, and might in some measure have influenced 
his determination ; at all events, on the 10th of Feb- 
ruary the signal to clear for action announced the 
commander-in-chief's intention to fight against all 
odds, and in this he followed the advice that Lord 
Nelson always gave his captains in all cases of doubt. 
His lordship used to say, " Fight, and that closely, 
and you will not be thought very wrong." I remem- 
ber the care used in taking down the admiral's bulk- 
heads, and the removal of all the furniture he could 
do without below. The substitution of canvass, and 
the open clear app(^arance of the long line of guns, 
which now were more frequently exercised, all as- 
sumed a more martial appearance, and the round, 
laughing, unintellectual countenance assumed a sharp- 
ened and eager look. On the 13th, La Mi nerve, 
bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Horatio 
Nelson, came down the Mediterranean and joined the 
fleet. He was ofl'ered any ship of the line, not bear- 
ing a flag, and with his characteristic modesty chose 
the smallest seventy-four, viz. the Captain. His 
pendant was flying on board of her a few hours after 
joining, and every heart warmed to see so brave and 
fortunate a warrior among us. 

The 13th of February, 1797, was employed by 
the British squadron, under Sir John Jervis, in get- 
ting ready for the ensuing fight, on which depended 
not only the fate of England, but the civilized world ; 
for revolutionary jargon and demoralizing principles 
spread like a baneful cloud over it, and went far to 
sap the first principles of social life, and restore the 
anarchy and confusion of the dark ages, when the 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 241 

Strong hand alone gave law, and order was banished 
from among mankind. Grinding cutlasses, sharpen- 
ing pikes, flinting pistols, among the boarders ; filling 
powder, and fitting well-oiled gnn locks on our im- 
mense artillery by the gunners, slinging our lower 
yards with chains ; and, in short, preparing a well- 
organized first-rate for this most important battle. 
The men and officers seemed to me to look taller, 
and the anticipation of victory was legibly written 
on each brow. It was my good fortune at that peri- 
od to be in great favor with the vice-admiral ; so 
much so, that each day he personally took me to 
where the grapes clustered his cabin, and the oranges 
in nettings hung thick above my head, with strong 
injunctions only to eat what had begun to decay. I 
was then not quite thirteen, and strictly obeyed or- 
ders, while he was in sight to enforce them, otherwise 
a tempting peach, with its soft maiden blush, or the 
coarser red of juicy nectarine, diverted me from the 
strait and narrow path, — I am sorry to reflect how 
frequently. The admiral was a polished, good-na- 
tured gentleman, and always took me as midshipman 
of his boat, when mustering the crews of the ships of 
squadron, in rotation. We one morning went on 
board the Excellent, Captain Cuthbert Collingwood, 
not then so celebrated as he afterwards became, — 
and I, being tired of seeing John Marlingspike and 
Tom Rattling smooth down his front hair, and hitch 
up his trowsers, preparatory to scraping his foot, with 
his best sea jerk, as he passed in review before the 
big wigs, — and pressed to go down by a brother 
mid, who felt proud of feasting the vice-admiral's 
21 



242 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

aid-de-camp ; and having internal convictioHj as well 
as external, that the hour of noon had passed, — the 
usual hour of dinner for young gentlemen, — I, for- 
getting my proud station, stole from the vice-admiral's 
side, and was well employed in stowing my hold in 
the most expeditious manner with beef and pudding 
in the middy's berth, when all at once I heard, " Pass 
the word for the vice-admiral's midshipman, — his 
admiral and captain are towing alongside, waiting for 
him." This alarming information nearly caused me 
to choke by endeavoring to swallow a large piece of 
pudding, I had in my mouth, and with my cocked-hat 
placed in my hurry the wrong way, I crossed the 
hawse of Captain CoUingwood, who, calling me a 
young scamp, and some other hard names, which I 
have long since forgiven, assured me, in not a very 
friendly tone, that if I was his midshipman, he would 
treat me with a dozen by marrying me to the gun- 
ner's daughter. This did not restore my self-posses- 
sion ; for being rather of an imaginative turn, I had 
a slight suspicion that Captain Dacres would very 
probably execute what his brother captain had hinted. 
But, O the storm ! When I opened the gangway, a 
typhoon or hurricane must have appeared a calm com- 
pared to it ; and in my hurry to jump into the boat, 
the Excellent having steerage way, I alighted on my 
captain's old-fashioned cocked-hat. He seemed par- 
alyzed with rage ; and the vice-admiral, who had not 
before spoken, with a quiet smile told me to sit down, 
and asked me, in a kind voice, "if my hunger was 
too great for his dinner ? " I hung my head, like 
most culprits, and listened in silence to the captain's 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



243 



promised retribution ; but I had a strong friend in the 
admiral, and was let off with a lecture as long as the 
main-top-bowline. During the long night of the 13th 
of February, we heard many heavy guns to wind- 
ward, and felt perfectly certain that they proceeded 
from the Spanish fleet, who could not be very re- 
mote. The day dawned in the east, and '' Up all 
hammocks ahoy ! " resounded through the decks of 
his Majesty's ship Barfleur. Some were sent aloft to 
barricade the tops, while the remainder were stowed 
with unusual care as a bulwark round the upper decks. 
Great haze had prevailed daring the night, and it 
still continued. General signal flying on board the 
Victory for the fleet to make all sail on the starboard 
tack, preserving a close order of sailing in two lines, 
a vice-admiral leading each line, with Sir John in the 
Victory two points on the weather-bow. Our two 
frigates and La Bonne Citoyenne sloop, under a press 
of sail, to windward. At nine the latter made the 
signal for a strange fleet to windward ; — then, that 
they were twenty-seven ships of the line and ten 
frigates, with a cloud of small craft, and that they 
were the Spanish fleet, under Don Cordova. These 
intimations of approaching battle were received by 
the British squadron with reiterated cheers ; and so 
beautifully close was our order of sailing, that the 
flying jib-boom of the ship astern projected over the 
taff'rail of her leader. Signal was mad*e for the Cul- 
loden to chase to windward, and, after a short period, 
to form the line of battle, without regard to the es- 
tablished order, by which manoeuvre Captain Trou- 
bridge led the British line ; and one more competent 



'24:4 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

could not have been selected. Here we must admire 
that wonderful tact and knowledge of human nature 
possessed by Sir John Jervis. Naval etiquette has 
established the senior captain as better fitted to lead, 
from his experience, and he is so placed in the estab- 
lished order of battle ; but practice has sometimes 
proved the fallacy of such a theory ; and Sir John, 
without offending, placed at the head of his line one 
of the most perfect seamen, though, as his subsequent 
end proved, too daring, even to rashness. This ill- 
fated officer took the Culloden home from Malta, when 
she had been declared not seaworthy, and tried the 
same in the Blenheim from India, and has never 
since been heard of; no doubt he fell a victim to his 
rash daring. But on the 14th of February no man 
could have led the British line better, or better have 
proved the unrivalled judgment of Sir John Jervis. 

"I have a glimpse through the fog of their lee- 
ward line," called signal-lieutenant Edghill, from the 
mainyard, "and they loom like Beachy Head in a 
fog. By my soul, they are thumpers, for I distinctly 
make out four tier of ports in one of them, bearing 
an admiral's flag." 

"Don Cordova, in the Santissima Trinidad," said 
the vice-admiral ; " and I trust in Providence that we 
shall reduce this mountain into a mole-hill before 
sunset." 

The British' had formed one of the most beautiful 
and close lines ever beheld. The fog drew up like a 
curtain, and disclosed the grandest sight I ever wit- 
nessed. The Spanish fleet, close on our weather 
bow, were making the most awkward attempts to 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



245 



form their line of battle, and they looked a complete 
forest huddled together; their commander-in-chief, 
covered with signals and running free on his leeward 
line, using his utmost endeavors to get them into or- 
der ; but they seemed confusion worse confounded. 
I was certainly very young, but felt so elated as to 
walk on my toes, by way of appearing taller, as I 
bore oranges to the admiral and captain, selecting 
some for myself, which I stored in a snug corner in 
the stern gallery, as a corps de reserve. The breeze 
was just sufficient to cause all the sails to sleep, and 
we were close hauled on the starboard tack, with roy- 
als set, heading up for the Spanish fleet. Our sup- 
porting ship in the well-formed line happened to be 
the Captain, and Captain Dacres hailed, to say that 
he was desired by the vice-admiral to express his 
pleasure at being supported by Sir Horatio Nelson. 

It wanted some time of noon when the Culloden 
opened her fire on the Spanish van, and our gallant 
fifteen, so close together, soon imitated her example. 
The roar was like heavy thunder, and the ship reeled 
and shook as if she was inclined to fall in pieces. I 
felt a choaking sensation from the smell and smoke 
of gunpowder, and did serious execution on the oran- 
ges. This uproar and blinding appeared to me to have 
lasted a considerable time, but I judged more from 
my feelings than my watch, when I heard our active 
signal-lieutenant report the Culloden's signal to tack 
and break through the enemy's line, and the fleet to 
follow in succession. Down went the Culloden's 
helm, and she dashed through, as reported, for my 
vision was dazzled, between the nineteenth and 
21* 



246 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



twentieth ship of the enemy, closely followed by the 
Colossus, whose fore-yard was shot away in the 
slings, as she was in stays. 

'' The Captain has put her helm down," called the 
signal-luff. 

'• Only in the wind," said the vice-admiral ; '' she 
will box off directly." 

The admiral was wrong, and Commodore Sir Ho- 
ratio Nelson went clean about, and dashed in among 
the Spanish van, totally unsupported, leaving a break 
in the British line, — conduct totally unprecedented, 
and only to be justified by the most complete success 
with which it was crowned. After losing sight for 
some time of the little Captain among the leviathans 
of Spain, one of whom, by some chance, appeared 
close under our stern, just as I had applied one of my 
select store of oranges to my mouth, she opened an 
ill-directed fire, apparently into the admiral's stern- 
gallery, that I was viewing her from. The first bang 
caused a cessation of my labors, the second made me 
drop a remarkably fine Maltese orange, which rolled 
away and was no more seen, and the third made me 
close my commanders on the quarter-deck, bearing to 
each an orange. An opening in the Spanish forest 
now showed the Captain on board of two Spanish 
ships, large enough to hoist her in, and to our aston- 
ishment and joy a tattered union jack fluttered above 
their sweeping ensigns. The commodore had made 
a bridge of one to capture the other, and both were 
])rizes to the Captain, Sir Horatio Nelson. 

At this time, the fleets being much intermingled, 
Sir John bore up in the Victory to rake the Salvador 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 247 

del Mui'ido, who carried a rear-admiral's flag, and had 
been roughly used by the Excellent, which had pass- 
ed on to assist the Orion, engaged by the Santissima 
Trinidad. What a smashing broadside was sent into 
the unfortunate Spaniard's stern by the Victory ! and 
before she could digest such a dose, we delivered 
another, which caused the Spanish flag to be quickly 
lowered, leaving our following friend to take posses- 
sion of her. 

When the British squadron passed through the 
Spanish fleet, they cut out eight ships of the line, 
who then tacked, and kept hovering to windward of 
their distressed friends. The rear division, now per- 
ceiving the imminent peril of their commander-in- 
chief, who was dismasted and very hard pressed in- 
deed, it was roundly asserted that he struck his 
colors, and rehoisted them on the rear division bear- 
ing down to his succor. The Conde Reigle, who led 
this division, ranging up alongside of his Majesty's 
ship Britannia, received one of the most destructive 
broadsides, and hauled her wind in a great hurry, 
taking no further part in the action. 

The time now nearly five P. M., and two first-rates 
and two second-rates showed the gay union of Eng- 
land fluttering over the ensign of Spain. Our prizes 
and disabled ships had fallen to leeward, and as the 
day v\ras closing, Sir John, who must have been 
amazed at his own success, made the signal for the 
fleet to reform the line of battle to leeward, and bore 
up in the Victory, to close them, and formed his line 
just to windward between them and the Spanish fleet, 
who still remained in the greatest disorder, their com- 



248 NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 

mander-in-chief, in the Santissimaj with only her 
main-mast and main-yard standing. I beheve the 
slaughter on board her so unprecedented, that Don 
Cordova, on shifting his flag, stated he had left four 
hundred of his men dead on her decks. The cap- 
tured ships had suffered much, and certainly took a 
glutton's share of beating with apathetic composure, 
their return being very feeble. Had the daring and 
heroic soul of Nelson been infused into the breast of 
every British commander on that glorious day, every 
one of their gorgeous ensigns would have bowed to 
the Jack of England, and Sir John Jervis would have 
been created a duke instead of Earl St. Vincent. 

Our fleet, during the night, which was fine, repair- 
ed damages and shifted prisoners, both fleets lying to 
with a prospect of renewing the fight at daylight. 
At dawn of day, tlie Spaniards, exasperated at their 
unexpected defeat and heavy losses, made a demon- 
stration of fight, by forming their line of battle, and 
placing their heads towards us, bringing up with them 
a very light breeze. An affirmative to the question, 
" Are you ready to renew the action ? " flew at the 
mast-head of each of our ships of the line, as the lee- 
ward ones, mostly disabled, were towed into the Brit- 
ish line of battle. At this moment a violent explo- 
sion from our lower deck, with the hasty flight of the 
port, part of the side, and a round of thirty-two pound- 
ers, through the air, caused great excitement ; and 
the cry of fire caused some confusion in the Barfleur. 
This was speedily got under, and our captain made 
his appearance on the quarter-deck completely drench- 
ed, and proceeded to. inquire into the late alarming 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 249 

occurrence. The men had slept at quarters, and one 
of them was soundly sleeping on the breech of a 
lower-deck gun, that was housed. A waister from 
the sister kingdom, rather raw in the service, pos- 
sessed of an inquiring mind, was at a loss to deter- 
mine how pulling a string affixed to the lock could 
cause such a thundering noise ; in his philosophical 
experiment he had placed the lock on full cock, gave 
a gentle pull with the aforesaid string, fired the gun, 
killed the sleeper, smashed his foot to pieces by the 
recoil, and stood transfixed with horror and pain at 
the success of his experiment. The loss of his foot 
saved his back, and the carpenters soon repaired the 
damage. Whether the noise of our shot was the 
cause, or that the better part of valor influenced the 
Dons, they hauled their wind, which now began to 
freshen, and increased their distance. By signal from 
the commander-in-chief, the British fleet hoisted 
Spanish colors, in compliment to Don something, — 
whose flag flew on board the Salvador del Mundo, 
and who was now dying of wounds received in the 
action. Whether this refined compliment cheered 
his moments of agony, I cannot say, but it received 
its reward by a rich Spanish ship running into the 
midst of us, being bothered by both fleets appearing 
with the same colors. 

Sir John, satisfied with the honor he had gained, 
and entertaining a well-founded dread of the Toulon 
fleet, whom we should have found very rough custo- 
mers, shaped a course for Lagos Bay, on the coast of 
Portugal, with the prizes in tow ; the Spanish fleet 
following us, though evidently afraid to come within 
gun shot. 



250 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 



On the following morning we anchored in battle 
order across this open bay, and in the evening a gale 
of wind came in from the sea, and the fleet were in 
terrible jeopardy, most of them with their sheet an- 
chor down, and some with their spare one. In the 
Barfleur we were pitching bows under, and three an- 
chors ahead ; one mile astern of us extended a reef 
of rocks, on which the sea broke frightfully, and 
through which there appeared no opening ; half a 
mile within them lay a populous village of fishermen. 
As they expected a God-send by the wreck of the 
whole fleet, they had gone through the trouble of col- 
lecting wood and burning fires during the night. 
Young as I was, I retain a strong recollection of this 
dark and dreadful night. 

'• Ship a-head driving,'' called the forecastle lieu- 
tenant. 

'' God help us ! " I heard the captain piously ejac- 
ulate. ^' Lower deck there, stand by, to veer on the 
three cables at the same time, — place the helm hard 
a-starboard," — and the commander-in-chief, in his 
gallant and noble ship the Victory, passed our star- 
board side close, driving fast upon the rocks to lee- 
ward, which shook off the heavy sea, throwing its 
white spray to the clouds. There was an agonized 
cry of horror, and " O God ! save her ! " as this beau- 
tiful fabric hastened on destruction. We heard her 
last effort, as her spare anchor flashed in the briny 
flood, and, thank God, she brought up with four an- 
chors a-head. Never shall I forget the sight, as I 
caused our stern and top lights to be relighted. The 
roaring of the wind and rain, the bellowing noise of 



4 



NELSONIAN REMINISCENCES. 251 

the officers' trumpets, the booming of the numerous 
guns of distress, the roar of the breakers so near us 
astern, and the ghastly reflection of the surf and fires 
ashore, —all, all are imprinted on my memory in the 
present year of 1838. 



